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  4. Photos: All the Celebrity Olympic Torch Bearers Over the Years

Photos: All the Celebrity Olympic Torch Bearers Over the Years

From Muhammad Ali to Prince William and Kate Middleton, see which stars have taken part in the tradition

By Sophie Dodd April 15, 2021 02:27 PM
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History of the Olympic Torch Relay

Celebrities Olympic torch
Credit: Michael Cooper/Getty; Ian West - WPA Pool/Getty;

The Olympic Flame is a symbol of continuity between the ancient and modern games. It has been lit in a ceremony in Olympia, Greece, ahead of every Games since Berlin 1936, when the Olympic Torch Relay first began, according to Olympic.org. The relay, inspired by the torch races of Ancient Greece, begins when the flame is transported to the host country.

One year after arriving in Tokyo, the 121-day relay kicked off on March 25 in Japan's Fukushima prefecture, one of the areas hardest hit by the disastrous 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown, according to The Washington Post.

Celebrities and members of the royal family have taken part in the relay for decades — here, we've rounded up some of the most memorable moments of the past 25 years. 

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Muhammad Ali

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Michael Cooper/Getty

The legendary boxer, who won a gold medal in the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, carried the torch 36 years later at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Ali also kicked off the 2002 Salt Lake City relay, which traveled through more than 300 towns in order to promote the Games across the United States. 

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Ann Curry

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Todd Warshaw/Pool/Getty

The journalist and former Today co-host took a turn with the Salt Lake City 2002 torch during the New York City leg.

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Magic Johnson

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty

"Carrying" may be forbidden in basketball, but the NBA icon got to do just that with the Salt Lake City 2002 torch in Newport Beach, California.

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Loretta Lynn

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Todd Warshaw/Pool/Allsport/Getty

This fire isn't gone just yet! The country singer-songwriter held the torch during the Louisville leg of the 2002 Salt Lake City relay.

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Diane Sawyer

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty

The news anchor also took a turn with the torch during the Louisville leg. 

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Martin Sheen

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty

The Emmy-winning West Wing star proudly held the Salt Lake City 2002 torch aloft in Los Angeles. 

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Larry King

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty

During the Salt Lake City relay's N.Y.C. leg, the late television host waved to the crowd as he carried the flame. 

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Venus & Serena Williams

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: TODD WARSHAW/AFP via Getty

The tennis powerhouses tipped their torches together in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during the 2002 relay. 

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Goldie Hawn

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty

The First Wives Club actress was all smiles carrying the Salt Lake City 2002 torch in L.A. 

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Lance Bass

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty

Before saying "Bye, Bye, Bye" to the Salt Lake City 2002 torch, the former *NSYNC member carried it through Newport Beach, California.

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Sylvester Stallone

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Carlo Allegri/Getty

The Rocky star showed off his muscles as he jogged along the beach in Santa Monica with the Athens 2004 torch.

In celebration of the return of the Games to their birthplace, the 2004 torch relay went international for the first time, traveling across every city that had hosted the Games since 1896. 

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Ryan Seacrest

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Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty

The Live with Kelly and Ryan co-host ran through L.A. carrying the Athens 2004 torch. 

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Nia Vardalos

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Credit: Chad Rachman-Pool/Getty

The My Big Fat Greek Wedding actress and screenwriter took a spin through N.Y.C. during the 2004 Athens relay. 

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Ellen DeGeneres

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Credit: Jeremy Montemagni/FilmMagic

The talk show host jogged through L.A. during the 2004 relay. 

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Mychal Watts/WireImage

The rapper missed his initial run after getting stuck in traffic, but managed to carry the torch for a stretch through Queens in the Athens 2004 N.Y.C. leg of the relay. 

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David Beckham

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Matt Cardy/Getty

The soccer superstar looked dapper after ferrying the torch in a speedboat up the River Thames to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the 2012 London Olympic Games. 

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Zara Tindall

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Credit: Indigo/Getty

The royal equestrian, who is the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, trotted along on horseback with the London 2012 torch to Cheltenham Racecourse.

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James McAvoy

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

The Atonement actor, a Glasglow native, had the honor of carrying the torch through his hometown during the 2012 relay. 

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John Legend

celebs Olympic torch relay
Credit: LOCOG via Getty

PEOPLE's 2019 Sexiest Man Alive brought his charms to the 2012 relay in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

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Sir Patrick Stewart

Celebrities Olympic torch
Credit: LOCOG via Getty

The Star Trek star grinned as he took his turn with the 2012 torch in London.

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will.i.am

Celebrities Olympic torch
Credit: Tim Ireland/PA Images via Getty

The rapper and Black Eyed Peas singer carried the 2012 torch through Taunton, England.

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Rupert Grint

Celebrities Olympic torch
Credit: LOCOG via Getty

Now that's a 'magic' moment! The Harry Potter actor paraded through London at the end of the 70-day torch relay in 2012.

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Prince William, Kate Middleton & Prince Harry

Celebrities Olympic torch
Credit: Ian West - WPA Pool/Getty

One day before kicking off the 2012 London Olympic Games, the royal trio watched as torchbearers handed off the flames at Buckingham Palace.

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 24 History of the Olympic Torch Relay
    2 of 24 Muhammad Ali
    3 of 24 Ann Curry
    4 of 24 Magic Johnson
    5 of 24 Loretta Lynn
    6 of 24 Diane Sawyer
    7 of 24 Martin Sheen
    8 of 24 Larry King
    9 of 24 Venus & Serena Williams
    10 of 24 Goldie Hawn
    11 of 24 Lance Bass
    12 of 24 Sylvester Stallone
    13 of 24 Ryan Seacrest
    14 of 24 Nia Vardalos
    15 of 24 Ellen DeGeneres
    16 of 24 Sean 'Diddy' Combs
    17 of 24 David Beckham
    18 of 24 Zara Tindall
    19 of 24 James McAvoy
    20 of 24 John Legend
    21 of 24 Sir Patrick Stewart
    22 of 24 will.i.am
    23 of 24 Rupert Grint
    24 of 24 Prince William, Kate Middleton & Prince Harry

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    Photos: All the Celebrity Olympic Torch Bearers Over the Years
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