training for the Olympics and I was going to win a gold 15 medal. And when I came back home, I was going to turn 16 pro and become the world heavyweight champion in 17 boxing. I never thought of the possibility of failing — only 18 of the fame and glory I was going to get when I won. I 19 could see it. I could almost feel it. When I proclaimed that I 20 was the "Greatest of All Time," I believed in myself. And I 21 still do. 22 Throughout my entire boxing career, my belief in my 23 abilities triumphed over the skill of an opponent. My will 24 was stronger than their skills. What I didn't know was that 25 my will would be tested even more when I retired. 26 In 1984, I was conclusively diagnosed with Parkinson's 27 disease. Since that diagnosis, my symptoms have increased 28 and my ability to speak in audible tones has diminished. If 29 there was anything that would strike at the core of my 30 confidence in myself, it would be this insidious disease. But 31 my confidence and will to continue to live life as I choose 32 won't be compromised. 33 Early in 1996, I was asked to light the caldron at the 34 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Of course my 35 immediate answer was yes. I never even thought of having 36 Notes: Parkinson's or what physical challenges that would present 37 for me. 38 When the moment came for me to walk out on the 39
15 training for the Olympics and I was going to win a gold 16 medal. And when I came back home, I was going to turn 17 pro and become the world heavyweight champion in 18 boxing. I never thought of the possibility of failing — only 19 of the fame and glory I was going to get when I won. I 20 could see it. I could almost feel it. When I proclaimed that I 21 was the "Greatest of All Time," I believed in myself. And I 22 still do. 23 Throughout my entire boxing career, my belief in my 24 abilities triumphed over the skill of an opponent. My will 25 was stronger than their skills. What I didn't know was that 26 my will would be tested even more when I retired. 27 In 1984, I was conclusively diagnosed with Parkinson's 28 disease. Since that diagnosis, my symptoms have increased 29 and my ability to speak in audible tones has diminished. If 30 there was anything that would strike at the core of my 31 confidence in myself, it would be this insidious disease. But 32 my confidence and will to continue to live life as I choose 33 won't be compromised. 34 Early in 1996, I was asked to light the caldron at the 35 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Of course my 36 immediate answer was yes. I never even thought of having Notes: 37 Parkinson's or what physical challenges that would present 38 for me. 39 When the moment came for me to walk out on the
Fluency_Packet_6-8.docx