Usain Bolt and Christian Eriksen teamed up in Manchester to demonstrate firsthand that sport can truly change lives. In a day marked by inspiration and raw passion, these two sporting legends visited Street League—a program dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth through football.
By his side, Christian Eriksen brought a quieter, steadier presence—no less powerful. His story, marked by a near-fatal cardiac arrest and an astonishing return to elite football, spoke volumes without fanfare.
With every conversation and every pass, he reminded the young people at Street League that setbacks don’t define you—how you respond to them does.
Alongside him was Christian Eriksen, calm and grounded, whose return to football after collapsing mid-match at Euro 2020 remains one of the sport’s most moving comebacks.
Together, they weren’t just sharing stories—they were showing these young people what resilience actually looks like.
During their visit, the pair engaged in training drills and candid conversations with the young participants, imparting lessons that reached far beyond the sports arena. Reflecting on his experiences, Usain Bolt said:
“I’ve heard about the work of Laureus and Nelson Mandela’s vision that ‘sport has the power to change the world’ attending the Laureus Awards over the years so it was special to see those words in action here in Manchester today.
Laureus supports programmes like Street League to help build confidence and resilience in young people through sport and that’s something I’ve experienced in my own life. If I had one message for the kids I met today, it would be: Don’t think limits, anything is possible.”
Not to be outdone, Christian Eriksen added his own perspective, emphasising the precious nature of life and the importance of support systems that harness sport’s transformative power:
“Life is very important. That was part of my speech back in 2023 when I received the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award and it’s true in the work programmes like Street League that Laureus supports around the world.
Laureus’ message of sport having the power to change young people’s lives is one I fully support, and what an honour to spend time with one of Manchester United’s biggest and definitely fastest supporters in Usain Bolt.”
Street League, at the heart of this inspiring encounter, leverages the universal language of football to tackle poverty and equip young people aged 16–30 with the skills they need for a brighter future.
Chief Executive Dougie Stevenson of Street League captured the sentiment best when he remarked, “It means a great deal to have such prominent and inspirational figures like Usain and Christian visit Street League, amplifying our mission of using sport and education to help young people into work.
Their encouraging words will motivate so many more of our young people to make positive changes in their lives and the impact of their visit will last long in our memories.
It’s a huge honour for Street League to be shortlisted for the 2025 Laureus Sport for Good Award, and I’d like to share a special message of thanks to our partners at Laureus for making this transformational visit happen.”
Joining Street League on the Laureus Sport for Good Award shortlist in 2025 are innovative organizations like Kick4Life, Figure Skating in Harlem, Kind Surf, Liberi Nantes, and Paris Basket 18.
They all tap into the transformative magic of sport—each one turning every game into a chance to unlock hidden potential and build communities that are as resilient as they are uniquely vibrant.
Usain Bolt and Christian Eriksen didn’t just step onto that pitch as legends of their sports; they brought something deeper.
They seemed to be saying that sport is more than just a game—it’s a beacon of hope, a lesson in resilience, and a powerful force for change.
Each dash down the field and every precise pass were more than just athletic feats; they were vivid demonstrations of how sports can lift spirits and transform lives, one small victory at a time.
