"Muhammad Ali" (1942 – 2016) American Boxer and civil rights campaigner

Muhammad Ali was a legendary boxer, philanthropist, and civil rights activist who is widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1942. Ali began boxing at an early age, and by the time he was 18, he had won two Golden Gloves championships and an Amateur Athletic Union title.

In 1960, Ali won a spot on the U.S. Olympic boxing team and went on to become the light heavyweight champion in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. After turning professional, Ali quickly rose to fame and became the undisputed world heavyweight champion in 1964. He held this title for a total of three times in his career. His iconic boxing style was famously characterized by his lightning speed, superb footwork, and impressive agility. Ali was known for his showmanship and his memorable quotes, such as “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”. His fights were legendary and he faced some of the greatest fighters of his time, including Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, and George Foreman. Ali was also an outspoken advocate for civil rights. He famously refused to be drafted into the U.S. military during the Vietnam War and was stripped of his titles and banned from boxing for three and a half years. After his ban was lifted, Ali returned to the ring and reclaimed the world heavyweight title in 1974. Throughout his career, Ali established a reputation as a humanitarian, donating millions of dollars to support charities and causes around the world. He was also an advocate for the rights of the oppressed, speaking out against racism and advocating for peace. Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984, but he remained active in the public eye until his death in 2016. He was honored with a state funeral in his hometown of Louisville, and his legacy as one of the most iconic sports figures of all time will continue to live on.