Olympic Legends

 

Introduction

We all know Muhammad Ali, a famous boxer. We all know Pele, a famous footballer. Some of us might know Jesse Owens, a famous athlete for track and field. We most certainly know Usain Bolt, a very famous sprinter. Ali, Pele, and Jesse Owens were all Olympic legends. Bolt quotes he is a legend, but what has he done to become a legend? I know he has lots of world titles and is the fastest man on earth, but what has he really done to become a legend?

Muhammad Ali

Now let's take a look at a real legend, Muhammad Ali. He is an Olympic champion and everybody knows his name, even people that don’t know anything about boxing, or they are not interested in it they still know who Muhammad Ali is. He has won 100 of his 108 fights. In 1967 Ali was band from boxing for 3 and half years because he refused to join the army. In 1970 he was allowed to box again and won the fight against Jerry Quarry, but his next fight wasn’t very good because Frazier knocked Ali out after 15 rounds. However, in 1974 he had a re-match and Ali won reclaiming his title. By the late seventies Ali’s career was going down because he was defeated by Leon Spinks in 1978. He lost again in 1980 against Larry Holmes. In 1981 Muhammad Ali fought his last match and sadly lost it to. The next day he announced he was retiring.

 3 years later he got Parkinson disease. He raised money for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson centre in Phoenix, Arizona. He supported make a wish foundation and many other things. Ali has travelled to lots of different countries including Mexico and Morocco to help those in need. As a result of that he got a medal for freedom from President Gorge W Bush. He also opened the Muhammad Ali centre in his home town Louisville, Kentucky. He said “I am an ordinary man who worked to develop the talent I was given.” “I believed in myself and believed in the goodness of others.” “My fans wanted to build museum to acknowledge my achievements. I wanted more than building to house my memorabilia, i wanted a place that would inspire to be the best they could be at whatever they choose to do, and encourage them to be respectful of one another.” Despite Ali’s illness he still remained active in public life. Muhammad Ali embodies the real meaning of a legend.

  Pele 

See link:

http://www.ifhof.com/hof/pele.asp