The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad and branded as Mexico 1968, took place from October 12 to 27 in Mexico City, Mexico. These Games held significant historical firsts: they were the first Olympic Games staged in Latin America, in a Spanish-speaking country, and in the Global South. Breaking from tradition, they were also the first to utilize an all-weather synthetic track for track and field events and exclusively employ electronic timekeeping. A defining characteristic was Mexico City's high elevation of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft), which profoundly influenced many events, especially those requiring endurance. The Games also unfolded just days after the Mexican government violently suppressed student protests, creating a somber backdrop.
The 1968 Games are perhaps most globally recognized for the powerful civil rights protest by American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who raised black-gloved fists on the 200m medal podium, with Australian silver medalist Peter Norman displaying solidarity. This act led to their lifetime ban from the Olympics by the IOC. Athletically, the Games generated numerous iconic moments: Bob Beamon's legendary "leap of the century" in the long jump, shattering the world record by an incredible 55 cm and still standing as the Olympic record; Dick Fosbury's pioneering "Fosbury Flop" technique that revolutionized the high jump; and Al Oerter's historic fourth consecutive gold medal in discus. Other highlights included Debbie Meyer becoming the first swimmer to win three individual gold medals, and Věra Čáslavská's symbolic protest against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia through her gymnastics victories. The Games also introduced the first doping disqualification (for alcohol use) and saw Mexico's Norma Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo become the first woman to light the Olympic cauldron.