Tommie Smith 200M Puma Clydes

With his fist clenched tightly covered in a black leather glove, Tommie Smith put on display in front of the world the complications of race, politics, and sports in America in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement.

Smith’s golden achievement was notable beyond the unforgettable image as the National Anthem was played. At the 1968 Mexico City Games, Tommie Smith won Gold while setting a new world record in the 200M with a time of 19.83 seconds. Beyond his achievement at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith is the only man in track and field history to hold eleven world records simultaneously and went on to play professional football for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 1978, Tommie Smith was elected into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.

A tribute to this brave athlete and his favorite pair of Puma sneakers, the Clyde. Puma is re-releasing the Puma Clydes he wore while atop the medal stand with the additions of a metallic gold leather lining, an embossed gold medal, Mexico City reference on the sockliner & lateral and the tongue labels display his record breaking time of 19.83 s in the 200M race. The second pair produced is completely gold with embossed medals on the upper and lined with black leather to represent the black leather glove Tommie Smith wore while raising his clenched fist.

These aren’t due out until August, but you can be sure to hear more about these from us. Photos thats to Limiteditions.