Profile of the Day: Muhammad Ali
On January 17, 1942, boxing champion Muhammad Ali was born.
Image: Muhammad Ali / Library of Congress
Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. in Louisville, Kentucky. At the age of 18, he won a gold medal in boxing in the 1960 Summer Olympics. He went on to become the first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion.
In his retirement, Ali devoted much of his time to philanthropy and despite his diagnosis with Parkinson’s, he remained active as a public figure for many charitable organizations.
Ali died on June 3, 2016 at the age of 74.
Explore Muhammad Ali’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re related to the legendary boxer.