Australian athlete Peter Norman, 200m silver medallist at the 1968 Olympics, has died after suffering a heart attack at his home in Melbourne. He was 64.

Norman, one of Australia’s great sprinters, finished second to American Tommie Smith in Mexico City in 20.06secs – still the national record -- nudging another American, John Carlos, into third place.

His achievement was to be overshadowed by one of the most controversial moments in Olympic history, Smith and Carlos raising their glove-laden fists during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner in a 'black power' salute to protest for civil rights in their homeland.

Although Norman did not take a direct part in the protest, he supported the Americans’ actions and was one of a few people who knew of their protest in advance. Norman wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge to the ceremony -- and it was his idea that Smith and Carlos wear one glove each after Carlos had forgotten to bring his pair.

Smith and Carlos were sent home in disgrace by the U. Olympic Committee following pressure applied by the IOC and its then president, Avery Brundage. Norman was allowed to stay in the athletes’ village after a stern rebuke from the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

Norman was Australian 200m champion five times from 1966-70 and in later life moved into sports administration. He had been unwell for some and was recovering from a triple bypass surgery when he collapsed at his home on Tuesday. Paramedics were unable to revive him.