Janet Evans And Lonnie Ali Recall 1996 Torch Moment
Omnia Vincit Amor, or The Power of Love in the Three Elements — Benjamin West, 1809
What Happened
Thirty years after the Atlanta Olympics, Janet Evans and Lonnie Ali revisited the night Evans passed the Olympic torch to Muhammad Ali, whose surprise appearance and lighting of the cauldron despite Parkinson's tremors drew a stadium-wide gasp from more than 85,000 people. The pair spoke together to promote the 2028 torch relay, which starts in Atlanta and ends in Los Angeles.
Why It Matters
Evans says she'd trade every medal to relive that handoff. Lonnie Ali calls it the final great moment of her husband's life. Thirty years on, neither has downgraded it to nostalgia — they're using it to sell the next torch relay. Some moments don't fade into memory. They just get repurposed as proof that the thing still works.
What's Next
The 2028 torch relay will begin in Atlanta, pass through all 50 states, and finish in Los Angeles.