In 1996, Muhammad Ali shocked the world at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games by lighting the torch at the opening ceremonies.
Many consider this to be one of the most emotional and memorable moments in Olympic history.
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It was one of the best kept secrets -- it was known that there would be a surprise -- but only a select few knew who it would be to light the torch.
Ali was a gold medal boxer in 1960, and had been battling illness before showing up to grace the Olympic crowd.
His death Friday at age 74 came after a lengthy battle against Parkinson's disease. Ali was diagnosed with the disease in 1984, three years after he retired from a boxing career that began when a skinny 12-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, amateur put on the gloves.
He is survived by his nine children, including daughter Laila, who, like her father, became a world champion boxer; and his fourth wife, Lonnie.
In a recent interview, Bob Costas, who called the moment on television, called it his most memorable moment of covering the Olympics.
