In 1964, a loud, handsome boxer from Louisville, Kentucky shocked the sporting world by beating the reigning heavyweight champion of the world. The new champion's name was Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. and he was just 22 years old. The day after the fight, Clay announced to the press that he was a Muslim and confirmed rumors that he had joined the Nation of Islam. Ten days later, the champion was introduced to the world by a new name: Muhammad Ali.

Ali won an Olympic gold medal in the light heavyweight division of the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics. In 1996, he was the torchbearer who lit the Olympic Cauldron in the Atlanta Summer Olympics.

This specimen is a piece of a punching bag formerly used by Muhammad Ali. Known as a double-end or "crazy" bag, this particular type of punching bag is used to improve accuracy, speed, and endurance.

The bag was gifted to long-time Louisville sports radio personality and friend of Muhammad Ali, John Ramsey, and later purchased at auction by Mini Museum. The double-end bag was attached at two ends with floor-to-ceiling elastic straps. This particular bag was used by Muhammad Ali during training sessions in the 1970 light heavyweight division.

1,363 games, 1,283 goals, 3 World Cup championships. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, was a legend in the world of football.

In 1958, Pelé joined the Brazilian World Cup team as the youngest player to ever compete in such an event. By the end, he would also be the youngest player to ever score and win the cup. It was clear from this moment onward, that Pelé was a football player unlike any who had come before.

Pelé's incredible prowess and skill gave him the nickname the King of Football. He was loved by players, fans, and people around the world and after his retirement for the game he became a powerful icon of international peace.

When he passed away early in 2022, Pelé's funeral brought a three day national mourning period as tens of thousands of fans waited to pay their respects at his public wake. He was one of the greatest football players of all time—and an incredible human being.

Though Pelé himself did not compete any Olympic events, he was part of the 2016 Rio Relay, where he also received the Olympic Order.

This specimen is an authentic section of a practice ball that Pelé owned and used to keep his skills sharp. The plain leather ball was acquired by auction in London, England in 2016. This auction was the most lucrative sale of football memorabilia in history.

On May 25, 2004, the Olympic Flame for the 2004 Athens Games was lit in Olympia. This was the 108th anniversary of the modern revival of the games in 1896.

This flame was carried across the globe by over 10,000 torchbearers to each city that had previously hosted the games. Finally, on August 13, after traveling over 48,400 miles, the final runner, Nikolaos Kaklamanakis, lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Games.

This specimen is a pair of wood and metal sections of one of the torches crafted for the 2004 Olympic Relay. These gas-powered torches were made with olive wood and aluminum to represent the two-toned sides of an olive leaf, a symbol of peace and the ancient Athenian city-state.