This is 99% invisible. I'm Roman Mars.

The Paris Olympics kicked off last week and the opening ceremonies were something else. They were awesome. The metal band

Gojira blasted pyrotechnics from a castle alongside a headless Marie Antoinette.

Saline Dion sang at the base of the Eiffel Tower, a masked torch-bearer ran on the rooftops like

Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible.

And yes, there was an animal cruelty-free symbolic dove release, a mysterious figure rode on a metal horse down the

sand, unfurling massive dovewinks.

It was weird and wonderful.

This week we're presenting a freshly remixed pair of older Olympic stories from 99

P. I will hear more about some long lost Olympic events that we think should definitely be brought back.

But first, this 2017 episode episode about the iconic design of the 1968

games in Mexico City. Enjoy.

The United States leads the Olympics in Medal Awards and is just about

supreme in the Sprint races. On October 16th, 1968, American sprinters Tommy Smith

and John Carlos climbed onto the podium at the Mexico City Olympics to

accept their medals. Yesterday they came in first and third in the 200 meter dash.

Smith had won gold. Carlos had won bronze.

As the National Anthem began to play,

the men, both African American, bowed their heads

and raised their fists in the Black Power Salute.

That's producer Claire Mullen.

They kept their fists raised until the last notes of the anthem faded away.

...