Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., better known as Muhammad Ali, was considered the greatest boxer of all time. He started boxing at the ripe age of 12 years old and won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics, but his life wasn’t paved with rose petals. He refused to join the military and had to veer away from being drafted. When he veered away, he was forced to face 5 years in prison and his boxing titles were stripped. All of that took place during the peak of his athletic career. After his imprisonment, he had to take a few months to readjust himself back into the regular routine, but once he did that he was headstrong into the game.
Muhammad Ali was number one in the heavyweight boxing world of the 20th century and he remained the three-time lineal champion of his division. What people may not be aware of was that he also dabbled in music, where he received two Grammy Awards for his performances. After many years of boxing, he came out to the public and revealed that he had Parkinson’s disease. The disease was brought about by several blows to his head multiple injuries after fights. Despite this, he still remained an active figure in the sports world, although he made fewer appearances at boxing events due to his unfortunate condition.
The Olympic Torch
One of Muhammad Ali’s monumental moments in sports wasn’t in the ring but during the ceremony of the Centennial Olympic Games. It was one of the most emotional and touching moments because his condition was at its peak yet he managed to light the Olympic cauldron with confidence. The opening ceremony of the Olympics will forever be globally remembered as a time where Muhhamad Ali graced it with his presence.