On the day after Tommie Smith and John Carlos were sent home, three other Americans achieved a magnificent triple in the 400m: Lee Evans (left) won the gold medal, Larry James (centre) the silver and Ron Freeman (right) the bronze. To show their solidarity with their disgraced compatriots, they wore a black beret during the medals ceremony ©Keystone

James Tomkins AUS (3rd left) rows during a practice session at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park ahead of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Beijing, China. 4 August 2008.

BEIJING - AUGUST 08: James Tomkins of the Australia Olympic rowing team carries his country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.

BEIJING - AUGUST 08: James Tomkins of the Australia Olympic rowing team carries his country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.

BEIJING - AUGUST 08: James Tomkins of the Australia Olympic rowing team carries his country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China.

22nd October 1968: Olympic medal winning, Afro-American atheletes for the 400 meters (from left to right) Lee Evans (gold), Larry James (silver), and Ron Freeman (bronze). The three wear black berets in sympathy for their suspended compatriots Tommie Smith & John Carlos who controversially gave the Black Power salute as the American national anthem was played during the medal ceremony for the 200 meters. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Matthew Long and James Tomkins AUS in action during the Men’s Coxless Pair (2-) Rowing Semi Final at the Sydney International Regatta Centre on Day Six of Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Sydney, Australia, 21 September 2000.

Matthew Long and James Tomkins AUS celebrate bronze in the Men’s Coxless Pair (2-) Rowing at the Sydney International Regatta Centre on Day Eight of Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Sydney, Australia, 23 September 2000.

ATHENS - AUGUST 21: (L-R) Steve Williams, James Cracknell, Ed Coode, Matthew Pinsent of Great Britain compete in the men's four final on August 21, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dave McGowan;Rob Jahrling;Tom Laurich;David Dennis

BEIJING - AUGUST 16: Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Steven Williams and Tom James of Great Britain compete in the men's four final at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 16, 2008 in Beijing, China.