The Making of an Olympian and Paralympian - Spirit of Sport
Get ready. The world’s greatest celebration of sport, culture and human achievement is about to get under way in the city of lights – and in the latest star-studded installment of Spirit of Sport you can hear from no fewer than nine of the athletes aiming for the podium in Paris.
As the French capital prepares to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, what better way to get on your marks for the climax of an unforgettable summer of sport than in the company of those competing for the ultimate accolade: an Olympic or Paralympic gold medal.
The new episode of Spirit of Sport – produced by Laureus – features exclusive interviews with the most decorated gymnast of all time, Simone Biles – competing in her third Olympic Games – and the stars of the Spain Women’s Football Team counting the days until their first appearance on this stage.
The new episode of Spirit of Sport – produced by Laureus – features exclusive interviews with the most decorated gymnast of all time, Simone Biles – competing in her third Olympic Games – and the stars of the Spain Women’s Football Team counting the days until their first appearance on this stage.
“It’s something unique and something you’re looking forward to because you share sport with all the world’s greatest sportsmen and women,” said Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Aitana Bonmatí, who led Spain to the World Cup in 2023 and won the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best footballer.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Biles opens up on dealing with stress ahead of her highly-anticipated appearance in Paris, while reigning 400m champion – and world record holder – Wayde van Niekerk reveals how he ensures he is ready to perform when it matters most.
“I would like to believe that from my last Olympics to now, that there’ll be a lot of growth and a lot of hurdles I’ve overcome that would give me the confidence to be the best version of myself,” said the Laureus Ambassador.
We also hear from Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, Diede de Groot, prior to her bid for Paralympic gold and another of Spain’s World Cup winning footballers, Salma Paralluelo as excitement reaches fever pitch in anticipation of the first opening ceremony on July 26.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Biles opens up on dealing with stress ahead of her highly-anticipated appearance in Paris, while reigning 400m champion – and world record holder – Wayde van Niekerk reveals how he ensures he is ready to perform when it matters most.
“I would like to believe that from my last Olympics to now, that there’ll be a lot of growth and a lot of hurdles I’ve overcome that would give me the confidence to be the best version of myself,” said the Laureus Ambassador.
We also hear from Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, Diede de Groot, prior to her bid for Paralympic gold and another of Spain’s World Cup winning footballers, Salma Paralluelo as excitement reaches fever pitch in anticipation of the first opening ceremony on July 26.
Skateboarding, surfing, climbing and BMX freestyle debuted at Tokyo 2020 and will again provide high-adrenaline action this time around.
Skating legend and Laureus Academy Member Tony Hawk discusses the sport’s journey towards inclusivity, and shares his hopeful vision for the future.
“If you just go to a skate park right now, it’s probably very crowded,” he said. “There’s people of all genders, of all ages, of all backgrounds, races, and they’re all enjoying it together.”
One young trailblazer hoping to leave a lasting impression on the Parisian ramps is 14-year-old Arisa Trew. The Australian is set to feature at her first Olympics, and fresh from being crowned Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year, she reveals what inspired her to go for gold in Paris.
Fearless fellow competitor Rayssa Leal looks forward to putting on a show in front of frenzied fans, while world champion surfer Filipe Toledo aims to attract new audiences to the sport he loves.
“A lot of good surfers are going to be there and hopefully we can get some beautiful conditions so we can show the world how beautiful our sport is, how amazing it is, how hard it is,” he said.
Skating legend and Laureus Academy Member Tony Hawk discusses the sport’s journey towards inclusivity, and shares his hopeful vision for the future.
“If you just go to a skate park right now, it’s probably very crowded,” he said. “There’s people of all genders, of all ages, of all backgrounds, races, and they’re all enjoying it together.”
One young trailblazer hoping to leave a lasting impression on the Parisian ramps is 14-year-old Arisa Trew. The Australian is set to feature at her first Olympics, and fresh from being crowned Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year, she reveals what inspired her to go for gold in Paris.
Fearless fellow competitor Rayssa Leal looks forward to putting on a show in front of frenzied fans, while world champion surfer Filipe Toledo aims to attract new audiences to the sport he loves.
“A lot of good surfers are going to be there and hopefully we can get some beautiful conditions so we can show the world how beautiful our sport is, how amazing it is, how hard it is,” he said.
Spirit of Sport also welcomes reigning 1500m world champion Josh Kerr for an exclusive, in-depth interview as he lifts the lid on how his gruelling routine has placed him in prime position to improve on the Olympic bronze medal he earned last time out.
He explained: “We made this plan and became a very resilient body and a very resilient mind – when you have those two things and the pressure’s on, you’re ready to go.”
In an ‘Only At Laureus’ head-to-head interview between two athletes with eight Olympic golds between them, Missy Franklin and Simone Biles discuss which pop star would provide the inspiration for the former's floor routine, and which swimming event Biles would compete in if the two friends swapped sports.
And we take a look at the incredible work being done by the inspirational people behind Sport for Good City Paris, a grassroots initiative using the power of sport to impact young lives.
Find Spirit of Sport on TV, online and stay tuned to Laureus’ social and digital channels for more unique and compelling stories and insights from stellar names from the world of sport.
He explained: “We made this plan and became a very resilient body and a very resilient mind – when you have those two things and the pressure’s on, you’re ready to go.”
In an ‘Only At Laureus’ head-to-head interview between two athletes with eight Olympic golds between them, Missy Franklin and Simone Biles discuss which pop star would provide the inspiration for the former's floor routine, and which swimming event Biles would compete in if the two friends swapped sports.
And we take a look at the incredible work being done by the inspirational people behind Sport for Good City Paris, a grassroots initiative using the power of sport to impact young lives.
Find Spirit of Sport on TV, online and stay tuned to Laureus’ social and digital channels for more unique and compelling stories and insights from stellar names from the world of sport.
