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Muhammad Ali was the Olympics' best-kept secret. 30 years later, the women who knew remember the gasp
Janet Evans and Lonnie Ali say Ali’s appearance at the opening ceremony left athletes and spectators gasping as the stadium fell silent.
- Thirty years after the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Olympic swimming legend Janet Evans and Lonnie Ali recall the opening ceremony where Muhammad Ali surprised the world by lighting the cauldron.
- Ali, who suffered from Parkinson's, exhibited a visible tremor while holding the torch during that warm summer night at Centennial Olympic Stadium, a moment that stunned the global audience.
- Describing the encounter as "beautiful," Evans passed the torch to Ali, while Lonnie Ali watched from a booth, recalling the crowd's collective gasp as they witnessed the historic lighting.
- Lonnie Ali noted that lighting the cauldron was likely the final greatest moment of her husband's life, while Evans said the experience changed how she approaches her own legacy.
- Aiming to bring that same spirit of unity to the upcoming Games, Evans and Lonnie Ali are promoting the 2028 Olympic torch relay to inspire global connection.
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16 Articles
16 Articles
Mooresville Tribune+15 Reposted by 15 other sources
Muhammad Ali was the Olympics' best-kept secret. 30 years later, the women who knew remember the gasp
Thirty years later, Olympic swimming legend Janet Evans and Muhammad Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali, remember the moment as if it happened only a few hours ago.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
L 19%
C 75%
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