Here & Now Anytime 25 at 250: Althea Gibson's winning racket and Muhammad Ali's Olympic torch
Feb 20, 2026
Damion Thomas, sports curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, explains why Muhammad Ali carrying and lighting the 1996 Olympic torch was such a powerful cultural moment. Short, vivid scenes revisit Ali’s tremor, the decision to feature him, and how that moment reshaped public memory and national symbolism.
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From Harlem Stoop To Global Champion
- Althea Gibson grew up playing paddle tennis on her Harlem stoop and challenged everyone on the block to play.
- She rose to break color barriers in major tournaments despite exclusion from clubs and limited support.
One Pioneer In Many Firsts
- Gibson often entered spaces as the singular pioneer, representing Black athletes at major international tournaments.
- Her career wasn't just personal success but repeated boundary-breaking across tennis and later golf.
Recognition Came Slowly But Endured
- Althea Gibson's achievements gained wider recognition only gradually over decades.
- Museums and exhibitions now spark renewed public interest in her legacy and artifacts.