As the world mourns the passing of Muhammad Ali, there have been countless tributes and memories of the boxing legend.

Russell Camilleri, who was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 2010, met and spent time with Ali, who was then Cassius Clay, at the Olympic Games in Rome, Italy, in 1960.

“I can’t say enough good things about him, and I have so much respect for him,” said Camilleri, who placed eighth in Greco-Roman in Rome. “I never saw him refuse an autograph request, and I was impressed with the way that he conducted himself.”

In addition to wrestling, Camilleri also boxed in college and helped San Jose State win two national championships. Camilleri’s college boxing coach was Julius Menendez, who was the head boxing coach for the United States Olympic Team in 1960.

“Wrestling was the first event. After I finished competing, I was around the boxers every chance that I could get. That was how I met Cassius Clay who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali,” said Camilleri. “He was an amazing athlete with tremendous talent, but what impressed me most was the fact that he worked twice as hard as anyone else.”

The day after Ali won his gold medal, he and Camilleri spent the day ‘palling’ around with Ali wearing his gold medal around his neck.

Camilleri had relatives who lived in Sicily, Italy, that came to visit him. Camilleri took a picture of his aunt, uncle and cousin with Ali. Ali then took a picture of Camilleri with his relatives. Camilleri did not, however, get a picture of himself with Ali.

“Later when I visited my relatives, I was looking through a photo album and there was the picture of them with Ali,” said Camilleri. “I asked my uncle ‘where’s the picture of me with you?’ He said ‘it’s in there somewhere.’ I asked why that picture was in the front and mine wasn’t.

“He told me ‘Everybody knows and loves this man. Nobody knows who you are,” laughed Camilleri. “Throughout the years every time I saw Ali it reminded me of that time at the Olympics. I will always have great memories of Muhammad Ali”