San Jose represents on the World’s Stage

In the 1960s, San José State wasn’t just producing fast runners — it was producing a movement.

Known as Speed City, the university became the epicenter of track-and-field dominance under legendary coach Bud Winter. But what happened in 1968 wasn’t just about gold medals — it was about justice.

At the Mexico City Olympics, SJSU athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos stepped onto the podium and raised their fists in a silent, defiant protest against racial injustice. With bowed heads and gloved hands, they turned a moment of athletic triumph into one of the most iconic human rights statements in modern history.

They paid the price — suspended, criticized, exiled from sport — but their stand inspired generations.

Speed City was never just about speed. It was about courage. It was about change. It was about San José taking its place on the world stage — not just as a city of innovation, but as a city of conscience.