Vincent Matthews
Encyclopedia
Vincent Edward Matthews (born December 16, 1947 in Queens, New York) is an African
American
former athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics
and 1972 Summer Olympics
.
Matthews was one of the best American long sprinters
to appear in the mid-1960s, and developed a fierce rivalry with future Olympic
champion Lee Evans
. The pair first met in their teens, and then duelled several times in 1967, with Evans coming out on top in the AAU Championships
and Pan American Games
.
At the warm-up meet two weeks prior to the Olympic Trials in 1968, Matthews set the new world record
44.4 in 400 m, but his time was rejected as a world record due to his use of PUMA
's illegal "brush spikes". At the Trials themselves, he was then beaten out of the top three by Evans, Larry James
and Ron Freeman
.
At the Olympic Games in Mexico City
, Matthews ran the first leg on American's gold medal winning 4x400 m relay team that set the world record of 2:56.16, which lasted for 24 years.
After Mexico, Matthews gave up track and field for a year as he struggled with the demands of work and marriage, but worked his way back to full fitness and into contention for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich
. At the Olympic Trials, Vince finished third behind John Smith
and Wayne Collett
, beating old rival Lee Evans into fourth. In Olympic final, Smith took the early lead but pulled a hamstring after 80 meters; the race turned into a battle between Matthews and Collett, Matthews winning in 44.66, with Collett coming second in 44.80.
The triumph was tarnished by the suspension of Matthews and Collett after the medal ceremony, where they were talking to each other and fidgeting while the US national anthem played, leading many to believe it was a Black Power
protest like that of Tommie Smith
and John Carlos
in 1968
.
The Associated Press
noted that the casual behavior of Matthews and Collett during the playing of the anthem as "disrespectful," and described the conduct as follows:
In an interview after the medal ceremony with the American Broadcasting Company
, Collett said the national anthem meant nothing to him. He explained that he had felt unable to honor the anthem because of the struggle faced by African American
s at the time: "I couldn't stand there and sing the words because I don't believe they're true. I wish they were. I believe we have the potential to have a beautiful country, but I don't think we do." The pair were banned from future Olympic competition by the IOC; since John Smith
had pulled a hamstring 80 meters into the final while leading and had been ruled unfit to run, the USA were unable to field a team in the 4x400m relay and were forced to scratch from the event.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
and 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
.
Matthews was one of the best American long sprinters
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
to appear in the mid-1960s, and developed a fierce rivalry with future Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion Lee Evans
Lee Evans (athlete)
Lee Edward Evans is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics....
. The pair first met in their teens, and then duelled several times in 1967, with Evans coming out on top in the AAU Championships
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
and Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
.
At the warm-up meet two weeks prior to the Olympic Trials in 1968, Matthews set the new world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
44.4 in 400 m, but his time was rejected as a world record due to his use of PUMA
PUMA AG
Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...
's illegal "brush spikes". At the Trials themselves, he was then beaten out of the top three by Evans, Larry James
Larry James
George Lawrence "Larry" James was an American track athlete.-Biography:James was born on November 6, 1947, in Mount Pleasant, New York, and took up track in seventh grade...
and Ron Freeman
Ron Freeman
Ronald J. Freeman II is a former American athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x400 m relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics....
.
At the Olympic Games in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Matthews ran the first leg on American's gold medal winning 4x400 m relay team that set the world record of 2:56.16, which lasted for 24 years.
After Mexico, Matthews gave up track and field for a year as he struggled with the demands of work and marriage, but worked his way back to full fitness and into contention for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. At the Olympic Trials, Vince finished third behind John Smith
John Smith (athlete)
John Walton Smith is a former American athlete, who competed in the sprints events during his career. He is best known for winning the men's 400 metres event at the 1971 Pan American Games....
and Wayne Collett
Wayne Collett
Wayne Collett was an African American Olympic athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres....
, beating old rival Lee Evans into fourth. In Olympic final, Smith took the early lead but pulled a hamstring after 80 meters; the race turned into a battle between Matthews and Collett, Matthews winning in 44.66, with Collett coming second in 44.80.
The triumph was tarnished by the suspension of Matthews and Collett after the medal ceremony, where they were talking to each other and fidgeting while the US national anthem played, leading many to believe it was a Black Power
Black Power
Black Power is a political slogan and a name for various associated ideologies. It is used in the movement among people of Black African descent throughout the world, though primarily by African Americans in the United States...
protest like that of Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith
Tommie Smith is an African American former track & field athlete and wide receiver in the American Football League. At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Smith won the 200-meter dash finals in 19.83 seconds – the first time the 20 second barrier was broken...
and John Carlos
John Carlos
John Wesley Carlos is a Cuban American former track and field athlete and professional football player. He was the bronze-medal winner in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics and his black power salute on the podium with Tommie Smith caused much political controversy...
in 1968
1968 Olympics Black Power salute
The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute involved the African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving the Black power salute at the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City...
.
The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
noted that the casual behavior of Matthews and Collett during the playing of the anthem as "disrespectful," and described the conduct as follows:
"Collett, bare-footed, leaped from the No. 2 tier to the No. 1 stand beside his teammate. They stood sideways to the flag, twirling their medals, with Matthews stroking his chin. Their shoulders slumped, neither stood erect nor looked at the flag. ... As whistles and catcalls continued, Collett raised a clenched fist to the crowd before entering the portal of the dressing room."
In an interview after the medal ceremony with the American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, Collett said the national anthem meant nothing to him. He explained that he had felt unable to honor the anthem because of the struggle faced by African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s at the time: "I couldn't stand there and sing the words because I don't believe they're true. I wish they were. I believe we have the potential to have a beautiful country, but I don't think we do." The pair were banned from future Olympic competition by the IOC; since John Smith
John Smith (athlete)
John Walton Smith is a former American athlete, who competed in the sprints events during his career. He is best known for winning the men's 400 metres event at the 1971 Pan American Games....
had pulled a hamstring 80 meters into the final while leading and had been ruled unfit to run, the USA were unable to field a team in the 4x400m relay and were forced to scratch from the event.