As the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro approached, speculation grew over whether any American athletes would use advantage of their worldwide platforms to draw attention to all the social and political controversies in the United States this year.
The focus should have been on Ethiopia, instead. It is now, after the silver medalist in Sunday’s men’s marathon gave a gesture of protest against his home government as he crossed the finish line — an act that he freely admitted could cost him his life.
Thus, the role of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, from the 1968 games in Mexico City, was filled by Feyisa Lilesa, 26, from the east African nation more than 8,000 miles away from the U.