Janet Evans and Lonnie Ali Reflect on 1996 Olympic Cauldron Lighting

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 2, 2026

Janet Evans carried the Olympic torch up to the cauldron during the 1996 Atlanta Games, where Muhammad Ali, despite his Parkinson’s disease, unexpectedly emerged to light the flame. This iconic moment is being honored as Evans and Lonnie Ali promote the 2028 Los Angeles torch relay, which will start in Atlanta and travel through all 50 states, linking past and future U.S. Olympics.

Thirty years after the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, swimming champion Janet Evans and Lonnie Ali, widow of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, reflected on one of the Games’ most memorable moments: the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

During the opening ceremony at Centennial Olympic Stadium, 24-year-old Evans was tasked with carrying the Olympic torch up a steep ramp to the cauldron. Despite being primarily known for her swimming prowess, Evans embraced the moment, aware that billions worldwide were watching. What the audience—and even Evans herself—did not know was that Muhammad Ali would unexpectedly emerge to join her, lighting the cauldron despite the physical challenges posed by his Parkinson’s disease.

Lonnie Ali recalled watching from a high stadium booth, filled with anxiety over how her husband, whose left arm visibly trembled, would manage the symbolic lighting. Ali, a 1960 Olympic boxing gold medalist and former heavyweight champion, had been battling Parkinson’s for years. Yet, as the crowd gasped in surprise and awe, Ali stepped into the spotlight and successfully ignited the flame that signaled the official start of the Games.

Janet Evans described the handoff as a transformative experience. Although initially skeptical when invited by Billy Payne, then-president and CEO of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, she now regards it as the defining moment of her Olympic career. Evans emphasized the emotional power of the flame and the unity it represents, saying she would willingly exchange all her competition medals for the chance to relive that night.

Lonnie Ali noted that the occasion was equally profound for Muhammad Ali, calling it likely the final great moment of his life. She highlighted the courage it took for him to perform under the glare of global attention, managing the visible effects of his illness while maintaining the dignity and grace that had defined his athletic career.

Afterward, some dignitaries were moved to tears upon meeting Muhammad Ali, which initially puzzled him. He thought their reactions stemmed from sympathy for his condition rather than admiration. Lonnie Ali recounted explaining to him that the response was one of joy and respect for his bravery.

As Evans approached Ali to pass the torch, preparations were in place to assist if needed. Billy Payne advised Evans to help if the torch went out, but the moment unfolded flawlessly. Evans sensed Ali’s determination and confidence as their eyes met during the close-quarters exchange. The lighting proceeded without incident, culminating in one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

With the Summer Games set to return to the United States in Los Angeles in 2028, both Evans, who now serves as the LA28 chief athlete officer, and Lonnie Ali are promoting the upcoming Olympic torch relay. The relay will begin in Atlanta, conclude in Los Angeles, and travel through all 50 states, symbolically connecting past and future Games on American soil.

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