拳王阿里
I have always believed in myself, even as a young child growing up in Louisville, Ky. My parents instilled a sense of pride and confidence in me, and taught me and my brother that we could be the best at anything. I must have believed them, because I remember being the neighborhood marble champion and challenging my neighborhood buddies to see who could jump the tallest hedges or run a foot race the length of the block. Of course I knew when I made the challenge that I would win. I never even thought of losing.
In high school, I boasted weekly — if not daily — that one day I was going to be the heavyweight champion of the world. As part of my boxing training, I would run down Fourth Street in downtown Louisville, darting in and out of local shops, taking just enough time to tell them I was training for the Olympics and I was going to win a gold medal. And when I came back home, I was going to turn pro and become the world heavyweight champion in boxing. I never thought of the possibility of failing — only of the fame and glory I was going to get when I won. I could see it. I could almost feel it. When I proclaimed that I was the“Greatest of All Time,”I believed in myself. And I still do.
Throughout my entire boxing career, my belief in my abilities triumphed over the skill of an opponent. My will was stronger than their skills. What I didn’t know was that my will would be tested even more when I retired.
In 1984, I was conclusively diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Since that diagnosis, my symptoms have increased and my ability to speak in audible tones has diminished. If there was anything that would strike at the core of my confidence in myself, it would be this insidious disease. But my“confidence and will to continue to live life as I choose won’t be compromised.
Early in 1996, I was asked to light the caldron at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Of course my immediate answer was yes. I never even thought of having Parkinson’s or what physical challenges that would present for me.
When the moment came for me to walk out on the 140-foot-high scaffolding and take the torch from Janet Evans, I realized I had the eyes of the world on me. I also realized that as I held the Olympic torch high above my head, my tremors had taken over. Just at that moment, I heard a rumble in the stadium that became a pounding roar and then turned into a deafening applause. I was reminded of my 1960 Olympic experience in Rome, when I won the gold medal. Those 36 years between Rome and Atlanta flashed before me, and I realized that I had come full circle.
Nothing in life has defeated me. I am still the "Greatest." This I believe.
我出生在肯塔基州的路易斯维尔，从小就对自己的力量非常有自信。我的父母将自豪感与自信心灌输给了我，他们告诉我和弟弟在任何事情上都要相信自己能够做得最好。我对父母的教诲深信不疑，因为我仍然记得当初我是邻里小朋友中的弹子球冠军。我还记得我向邻居的男孩们挑战，看谁跳过的篱笆更高，或与他们比赛看谁先跑到街区那头。当然，向他们发起挑战时我知道自己会赢——我甚至连想都没想过自己会输。
上中学时，我每周都会夸口说——如果算不上天天都说的话——自己有一天将会成为世界重量级拳王。作为拳击训练的一部分，我顺着路易斯维尔商业区的第四大街跑，在当地的商店间来回穿梭，告诉他们我正在为参加奥运会做准备，我要夺冠，说完就走了。而回到家中我要进行职业训练，朝“重量级拳王”迈进。我从未想过我可能会失败——而是想着胜利后的名誉与荣耀。我能看到它。我几乎可以感觉到它。在我宣布自己“永远是最伟大”的拳手时，我相信自己的力量。如今我依然相信。
纵观我的拳击生涯，我的自信令我将对手踩在脚下。我胜利的意愿比他们的技术更强。令我没有想到的是，我的这种意愿在我退役后还要接受多次检验。
1984年，我被确诊为帕金森氏病。自确诊之后，我的症状就越来越严重了，我讲话的声音越来越小。如果说有什么事情从根本上挫败了我的信心的话，那就是这种隐伏性的疾病了。但是，我继续按自己选择的道路生活下去的信心和意愿是不会妥协的。
1996年初，我被邀请在乔治亚州亚特兰大举行的夏季奥运会上点燃主火炬。我毫不犹豫就答应了，根本没有想到我患有帕金森氏病，也没考虑过这所带来的生理挑战。
我从140英尺高的架台上走出来，从珍妮特·埃文斯手中接过火炬的那一刻，我意识到全世界的目光此刻都聚集在我的身上。当我将奥运火炬高高举过头顶时，我又意识到全世界的目光都转移到了我震颤着的身体上。就在那一刻，体育馆内响起一阵隆隆声，这隆隆声随后变成一阵轰鸣的叫喊声，最后变成一片震耳欲聋的掌声。这让我想起了1960年罗马奥运会，我夺冠时的情景。从罗马到亚特兰大，这36年在我眼前一闪而过，我发现我绕了一圈后又回到了这里。
生命中的任何东西都击败不了我。我依旧是“最伟大的”。
实战提升
Practising&Exercise
单词注释
challenge [5tFAlindV] n. 挑战;邀请比赛
proclaim [prE5kleim] v. 宣告;公布;声明
conclusively [kEn5klu:sivli] adv. 决定性地;确定地
flash [flAF] v. 使闪光;使闪烁
实用句型&词组
We believe in him.（信任）
It’s suddenly come back to him where he saw her last.（记起）
The men in this factory walked out yesterday.（罢工）
翻译行不行
在我宣布自己“永远是最伟大”的拳手时，我相信自己的力量。如今我依然相信。
但是，我继续按自己选择的道路生活下去的信心和意愿是不会妥协的。
生命中的任何东西都击败不了我。我依旧是“最伟大的”。
之外，皮特和茱丽也不忘自己的演艺事业，同时还做了很多慈善工作。