3x3 star Anneli Maley reveals family connection with Aussie icon Peter Norman

Australian 3x3 player Anneli Maley has revealed her personal connection to Peter Norman, the Australian sprinter who became a civil rights hero at the 1968 Games.

Australian 3x3 basketballer Anneli Maley has revealed her emotional family connection to iconic Olympian Peter Norman as his decision to join the 1968 Black Power protest has become a moral compass for her every day life.

Maley is the second cousin of the inspirational Australian hero, with her grandfather Kevin the cousin of Norman as they grew up together in Melbourne’s inner north.

Maley, who makes her Olympic debut on Tuesday in Paris, has a cherished photo after a chance meeting with Olympic hero Tommie Smith while competing in college basketball.

Melbourne sprinter Norman famously joined Americans Smith and John Carlos in protesting against racist oppression as he wore an ‘Olympic Project for Human Rights’ badge on the podium after the 200m sprint.

It remains one of the defining symbols of civil rights activism, but all three athletes suffered a huge backlash that saw Norman shunned by Australian authorities and denied the chance to race at Olympic level again.

Australian 3x3 basketballer Anneli Maley, relative of Australian Olympic legend Peter Norman, with Black Power salute icon Tommie Smith.

He died without being acknowledged for his contributions to the sport, with Australia apologising in 2012 for the treatment he received for supporting Smith and Carlos.

Maley told News Corp the story of Norman remains legendary in their family after they grew up together in Preston and Thornbury.

He was guided by his Salvation Army faith, which remains an inspiration to the family to this day.

“He is my grandfather’s cousin,” she told News Corp.

“If you read Peter’s memoir he speaks about never being able to beat Kevin. They grew up in the Salvation Army together and I was really young when he passed away but the footprint he left on our family and our values about doing what is right, his legacy guides our values.

“I remember from a young age when my grandmother and grandfather told me the story and my mum relayed the story to me, they said this is how we guide what we stand for.”

Peter Norman next to US athletes Tommie Smith (C) and John Carlos (R) raise their gloved fists in the Black Power salute to express their opposition to racism in the USA. Picture: EPU / AFP)

“Everything I hear about Peter from my grandpa, he was just so humble and his heart was always in the right place. Humanitarianism was always big for him, even when he was young. He always believed in doing what was right.”

Maley said she could not pass up the chance to approach Smith when she saw him in transit while playing for Texas Christian University.

“It was four years ago and I was at college and we were in the airport and all of my teammates were going nuts _ “That’s Tommie Smith, that’s Tommie Smith”.

“I only knew him through the connection with Peter and I went straight up to him and said, ‘I am related to Peter, he’s my grandpa’s cousin, I have always heard so much about you. I hadn’t even finished with the sentence and he gave me a massive hug.

“I got a photo and I just started crying. I wasn’t expecting him to care who I was and there were so many people surrounding him, but I couldn’t even finish the sentence and he was hugging me.”

Anneli Maley speaks to media during the Australian 2024 Paris Olympic Games Basketball Squad announcement.

Australian Gangarrus coach Damon Lowery admits the four members of his 3x3 team have all been overlooked before given rejection from Opals squads before winning qualification for Paris as a tight-knit team fighting for their sport.

For Maley, finding acceptance among her sporting peers in Paris has been a revelation.

“It’s actually unreal being here and making history as the first Gangarrus team. I suffer with my own mental health issues and doubts and imposter syndrome, and being in the village everyone accepts each other,” she said.

“We are all one Australian team and I have never felt that I belonged as much. Being an Australian Olympian, I feel like I belong here.”

“I have never felt like I belonged in any sporting environment but I really do feel welcome here. I have accepted the parts of me that people have found issue with. When I arrived here I expected to feel like an imposter but I have been welcomed by everyone in a group of people that encourage each other.”

Originally published as 3x3 star Anneli Maley reveals family connection with Aussie icon Peter Norman