I Had Four Gold Medals, But You

I Wanted No Part Of Politics. And I Wasn't In Berlin To Compete Against Any One Athlete. The Purpose Of The Olympics, Anyway, Was To Do Your Best. As I'd Learned Long Ago From Charles Riley, The Only Victory That Counts Is The One Over Yourself.

Running Is Real. It’s All Joy And Woe, Hard As Diamond. It Makes You Weary Beyond Comprehension, But It Also Makes You Free.

In The Space Of Less Than Seven Days, I Attended A Track Meet In Boston, Flew From There To Bowling Green For The National Jaycees, Then To Rochester For The Blind, Buffalo For Another Track Meet, New York To Shoot A Film Called The Black Athlete, Miami For Ford Motor Company, Back Up To New York For 45 Minutes To Deliver A Speech, Then Into L. A. For Another The Same Night.

I Realized Now That Militancy In The Best Sense Of The Word Was The Only Answer Where The Black Man Was Concerned, That Any Black Man Who Wasn't A Militant In 1970 Was Either Blind Or A Coward.

The Secret Is, First, Get A Thoroughbred Horse Because They Are The Most Nervous Animals On Earth. Then Get The Biggest Gun You Can Find And Make Sure The Starter Fires That Big Gun Right By The Nervous Thoroughbred's Ear.