He won the light heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome

One of the major accomplishments of Muhammad Ali is that he won the light heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Ali was originally introduced to boxing by a Louisville police officer and boxing teacher Joe E. Martin, who came upon the 12-year-old ranting over a robber who had stolen his bicycle. He informed the officer that he planned to "whup" the robber. Clay was advised by the officer to first learn how to box. Clay first declined Martin's offer, but after seeing amateur boxers on a local television boxing show called Tomorrow's Champions, Clay became interested in the thought of fighting. He subsequently began working with trainer Fred Stoner, whom he credits with providing him with serious training, eventually shaping "my style, stamina, and system." Clay was instructed by boxing cutman Chuck Bodak for the final four years of his amateur career.

Clay made his amateur boxing debut in 1954 against Ronnie O'Keefe, a local amateur boxer. He won on a tie vote. He went on to win six Kentucky Golden Gloves championships, two national Golden Gloves championships, an Amateur Athletic Union national championship, and the light heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Clay won his first three Olympic fights, two fights by unanimous decision and one fight by second-round knockout. He faced three-time European champion, Zbigniew Pietrzykowski of Poland, in the final. Clay reached the top form in the third round, mauling his opponent and nearly achieving a knockout after being dominated by his opponent in the opening two rounds. Clay was declared the winner by all judges, making him the Olympic light heavyweight champion.