Three decades after the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games, Olympic swimming gold medalist Janet Evans and Lonnie Ali, the widow of Muhammad Ali, have reunited to reflect on one of the most poignant moments in sporting history. Their shared memories center on the secret arrival of the legendary boxer to light the Olympic cauldron, a surprise that left more than 85,000 spectators breathless. And I said, ‘Ah, yeah, oh, whatever, Billy, you know, what’s greater than winning an Olympic medal?”.
During the opening ceremony, the then 24-year-old Evans had been tasked with carrying the torch up a steep ramp. She admitted that the pressure of performing before a global audience of billions was immense. “I am a swimmer,” she noted, adding with a laugh that she was not a great runner. Her partner in the final relay, unbeknownst to the crowd, would be the man famously known as The Greatest. There was Evans, then 24, running purposefully up a steep ramp while carrying a flaming Olympic torch, understandably nervous because a couple billion people around the world, give or take a few million, were watching her run. “I am a swimmer,” she said. “I’m not a great runner.”, during the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games. Sitting in the press tribune, I was one of the people who gasped. And it overshadows anything I ever did in the swimming pool, there is something magical about the Olympic flame and bringing people together.
High above the stadium floor, Lonnie Ali monitored the preparations with intense anxiety. She knew her husband, who was battling Parkinson’s disease, would be required to hold a burning torch while his left hand suffered from tremors, all while attempting to ignite the fuse leading to the cauldron. The fear of potential complications weighed heavily on those backstage, including Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games CEO Billy Payne.
Payne had provided specific instructions to Evans while they waited in the tunnel. He reminded her that if the boxing icon struggled, she should assist him, noting that the specialized torch was designed to stay lit. Despite the tension, when the moment arrived and they stood face-to-face, Evans saw a look of absolute determination in Ali’s eyes. She realized immediately that he was fully capable of completing the task on his own. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more surprising and breathtaking moment in sports that didn’t happen on the field of play.
As Ali emerged from the darkness into the blinding stadium lights, the collective gasp from the audience became a defining memory for many in attendance. While the stadium erupted in shock and awe, Ali later misread the audience’s reaction. According to Lonnie, the boxer initially worried that the crowd’s audible intake of breath and the tears visible on the faces of dignitaries were signs of pity for his physical condition.
The couple discussed the moment later that night at their hotel. Ali held the torch and questioned whether the spectators had been sad to see his tremors. Lonnie reassured him that those were tears of joy and pure astonishment. Upon realizing that the audience was actually applauding his courage, Ali felt a surge of pride and elation at the warm reception he received.
For Evans, the experience redefined her perspective on athletics. Having previously won four gold medals and one silver across the 1988 and 1992 Games, she initially struggled to grasp why being part of the torch relay was so significant compared to winning a medal. However, she now describes the event as the pinnacle of her career, stating she would gladly trade her medals to repeat that single moment of unity. Thousands stunned at the same moment, inhaling as one, as if everyone could suck the air out of an outdoor stadium, i’ll never forget that sound.
Lonnie Ali echoes this sentiment, viewing the 1996 lighting as the final monumental achievement in her husband’s life. Ali, who captured boxing gold in the 1960 Olympics and eventually passed away in 2016 at age 74, was brought back to the center of the global stage, demonstrating a grace and resilience that resonated deeply with the world. It changed how I approach a lot of things in my life. ….
As the Olympic Games prepare to return to the United States in less than two years for the Los Angeles 2028 event, Evans—who currently serves as the LA28 chief athlete officer—is helping promote the upcoming torch relay. The new relay is scheduled to traverse all 50 states, beginning its journey in Atlanta, the site of the unforgettable display of courage that remains etched in the memories of those who witnessed it.
Reflecting on the legacy of that night, both women emphasize how the visual contrast between Ali’s athletic prime and his later battle with Parkinson’s only heightened the impact. By standing tall with the flame held high, he transformed the ceremony into a profound act of human spirit, leaving a lasting impression that continues to inspire long after the flame was extinguished.
