Wayne Collett

Wayne Collett (born 20 October,1949) was an African American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.

He competed for the United States in the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, Germany in the 400 metres where he won the silver medal. During the medal ceremony Collett and winner Vincent Matthews talked to each other and fidgeted while the US national anthem played, leading many to believe it was a Black Power protest like that of Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968. Collett explained that he had felt unable to honor the anthem because of the struggle faced by African Americans at the time : "I couldn't stand there and sing the words because I don't believe they're true. I wish they were. I believe we have the potential to have a beautiful country, but I don't think we do." The pair were banned from future Olympic competition by the IOC. This debacle and John Smith's injury meant that the USA no longer had enough men to fill a 4x400 m relay team and were forced to withdraw from the contest.