His Majesty the King, who passed away on Thursday, was an avid sports fan and often attended events to watch Thai athletes compete or kept an eye on their performances on television.
His support encouraged a large number of the Kingdom's stars to glory at the highest level.
I was in Athens in 2004 when Thailand had a good Olympic boxing squad which included Somjit Jongjohor, Manus Boonjumnong, Worapoj Petchkoom and Suriya Prasarthinphimai.
Coached by Cuban Juan Fontanils, the team received a message from the King during the Games, wishing them success.
"The King's message gives me power," Manus affirmed, ahead of his light-welterweight final against Cuba's Yudel Johnson.
Underdog Manus went on to beat Johnson 17-11 in the gold medal match.
"I dedicate the gold medal to the King," Manus said after the bout.
Athens 2004 was the Thai boxing team's most glittering Olympics as they took home three medals via Manus, Worapoj (silver) and Suriya (bronze).
Four years later, Somjit was determined to make amends for his disappointing Athens campaign.
Apart from working hard, Somjit also sought divine help for the Beijing 2008 tournament.
Each member of the boxing squad received an amulet from the team management but Somjit also had his own sacred object.
Somjit had an amulet with the King's image in the monkhood known in Thai as the Nai Luang Song Phanuak amulet.
I asked him why he chose this amulet and he replied: "The King is already holy -- he is even holier in the monkhood."
Somjit comfortably beat Cuba's Andry Laffita 8-2 in the flyweight final.
The King was at Bangkok's Lumpini stadium when boxer Pone Kingpetch fought world flyweight title-holder Pascual Perez of Argentina on April 16, 1960.
After Pone defeated Perez to become Thailand's first world boxing champion, the King granted him an audience in the royal box.
His Majesty congratulated him and patted him on the back.
"I was so happy that I cried," Pone said of his meeting with the King.
Pone lost the title to Fighting Harada in Japan in 1962 and got a rematch at Bangkok's Gymnasium 1, now Nimibutr, the following year.
Reports said Pone was trailing Harada after six rounds.
His cornerman then told Pone that the King had just arrived at the venue.
The news boosted Pone's confidence as he fought harder and beat the Japanese on points after 15 rounds to regain the crown.
Even when the King was in hospital, he still lent his support for Thai athletes.
In 2014, the King was staying at Siriraj Hospital when he watched the Thai national football team play Malaysia on TV in the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final in Kuala Lumpur.
Having won 2-0 in the first leg in Bangkok, Thailand were 2-0 behind at half-time in Malaysia.
According to his doctor Prof Udom Kachintorn, the King asked his private secretary to phone the Thai team to tell them that he was watching the match on TV.
Thailand then rallied to lose 3-2 on the night to win 4-3 on aggregate. The success ended Thailand's 12-year title drought in the Southeast Asian championship.
"Brilliant," Dr Udom quoted the King as saying after the match.
