After a month and four rounds, we're down to the Final Four in the GIA. The best of the best. There is little, if any, exposition needed for these four men: Ali, Nicklaus, Owens, and Thorpe. Here, we look back at how these four got this far.

Muhammad Ali

Road to the Final Four:
1st Round: defeated Eddie Arcaro (98%-2%)

2nd Round: defeated Ben Hogan (96%-4%)

Sweet 16: defeated Jackie Joyner Kersee (76%-24%)

Elite Eight: defeated Lance Armstrong (66%-34%)

It comes as no surprise to anyone that Muhammad Ali has made it this far. He probably would be in the Final Four even if team sport athletes were included. Lance gave him his biggest challenge in the last round, but it still wasn't close to knocking off Ali. He's known as the Greatest, and for now it looks like he's the man to beat.

Jack Nicklaus

Road to Final Four:
1st Round: defeated Juan Manuel Fangio (98%-2%)

2nd Round: defeated Sugar Ray Robinson (60%-40%)

Sweet 16: defeated Carl Lewis (53-47%)

Elite Eight: defeated Babe Didrikson Zaharais (68-32%)

Every round except the first, I've thought that Nicklaus could go down, but the Golden Bear has taken all comers and made the Final Four, the only non-#1 seed to do so. If this were real, Nicklaus would certainly define "battle tested." These last three opponent were as tough as any single opponent the others have dealt with. Obviously, Jack is quite popular, but will it be enough against Ali?

Jesse Owens

Road to the Final Four:
1st Round: defeated Jeff Gordon (87%-13%)

2nd Round: defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (85%-15%)

Sweet 16: defeated Mark Spitz (91-9%)

Elite Eight: defeated Pete Sampras (83-17%)

Is Owens that good (yes), or has the competition been too easy (maybe)? Either way, Jesse Owens is mowing people down like it's 1936 again. The Fiinal Four will easily be his toughest test of the tournament, in a battle between Old School and Really Old School.

Jim Thorpe

Road to the Final Four:
1st Round: defeated Earl Anthony (97%-3%)

2nd Round: defeated Joe Frazier (98%-2%)

Sweet 16: defeated Roger Federer (70%-30%)

Elite Eight: defeated Rocky Marciano (68-32%)

Like his opponent Owens, Thorpe has routed his competition. His thrashing of Joe Frazier in the second round is still the most impressive win of the tournament, in my opinion. Again, I wonder if having a lot of success in team sports will affect Thorpe in a tournament for individual sport athletes. So far though, it certainly hasn't. Owens-Thorpe, though, could be the matchup of the tournament.

The Final Four poll is now open, and will close Tuesday at 11:30. Be sure to vote on who you think should advance to the championship.