Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali, born as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr, was an American professional boxer and one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century. Nicknamed 'the Greatest', Ali was considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, his training as an amateur boxer began at the age of 12. He captured the attention of the world when he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics, later turning professional. He joined the Nation of Islam in the early 1960s but disavowed it in the mid-1970s. He won his first world heavyweight championship at age 22 by defeating Sonny Liston. In 1964, he denounced his birth name as a 'slave name' and adopted 'Muhammad Ali'. He became a global icon of racial pride for African Americans during the civil rights movement and throughout his career. Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and focused on religion, philanthropy, and activism. In 2006, he made public his diagnosis of Parkinson's syndrome, believed to be related to his boxing injuries. Ali remained an active public figure globally until his death in 2016.