Henry, Hoy, Comăneci and Lewis exclusives in latest Spirit of Sport episode
The latest episode of Spirit of Sport, the Laureus-presented show, features exclusive interviews with Thierry Henry, plus Laureus Academy Members Chris Hoy and Nadia Comăneci. We also visit the Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic, and speak to Lennox Lewis on his return to a Laureus-supported project making a difference in the heart of Mexico City.
From perennial underachievers to kings of Europe, Paris Saint-Germain’s journey to the top has not been without drama and heartache.
This month on Spirit of Sport, we sit down with French footballing icon Thierry Henry as he looks back on how the Paris giants finally claimed the prize that eluded them for so long – the Champions League.
That epic 5-0 destruction of Inter Milan in 2025’s final also helped earn PSG the Team of the Year Award at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, a month before they won the Champions League for a second consecutive time.
Henry: “It was always the story, waiting for the Champions League, because of the investment and the players playing there, because of the coaches that went there, because of the expectation that was there.”
It all changed in 2023, when former Barcelona and Spain head coach Luis Enrique took over at the Parc des Princes. For Enrique, transforming the culture was key to taking the club to the next level. The players bought into his vision, and so too did the supporters.
The culmination of that collective effort arrived in May 2025 with the Champions League final against Inter Milan. They finished 2025 with six major titles.
PSG’s scintillating performance against the Serie A giants will go down as one of the greatest ever seen in the competition, with fans marking the victory by producing a moving tifo in honour of Enrique’s late daughter, Xana, who lost her life aged nine in 2019.
“When somebody loses someone, you do an homage to them,” explained PSG supporter, JP. “We say: ‘We are with you, we respect you’.”
This month on Spirit of Sport, we sit down with French footballing icon Thierry Henry as he looks back on how the Paris giants finally claimed the prize that eluded them for so long – the Champions League.
That epic 5-0 destruction of Inter Milan in 2025’s final also helped earn PSG the Team of the Year Award at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, a month before they won the Champions League for a second consecutive time.
Henry: “It was always the story, waiting for the Champions League, because of the investment and the players playing there, because of the coaches that went there, because of the expectation that was there.”
It all changed in 2023, when former Barcelona and Spain head coach Luis Enrique took over at the Parc des Princes. For Enrique, transforming the culture was key to taking the club to the next level. The players bought into his vision, and so too did the supporters.
The culmination of that collective effort arrived in May 2025 with the Champions League final against Inter Milan. They finished 2025 with six major titles.
PSG’s scintillating performance against the Serie A giants will go down as one of the greatest ever seen in the competition, with fans marking the victory by producing a moving tifo in honour of Enrique’s late daughter, Xana, who lost her life aged nine in 2019.
“When somebody loses someone, you do an homage to them,” explained PSG supporter, JP. “We say: ‘We are with you, we respect you’.”
Next, we take a trip to San Sebastián as six-time Olympic champion and Laureus Academy Member Chris Hoy begins his epic five-day journey through the Pyrenees to Barcelona, raising vital funds for life-changing Laureus Sport for Good projects.
“I was diagnosed with cancer nearly three years ago now, and on top of all that, I’ve managed to tear the meniscus in my left knee, and broke my right leg back in November,” said Hoy.
“So, I’ve got a few excuses up my sleeve. It’s going to be tough, but life would be boring if it wasn’t filled with challenges, wouldn’t it?”
“I was diagnosed with cancer nearly three years ago now, and on top of all that, I’ve managed to tear the meniscus in my left knee, and broke my right leg back in November,” said Hoy.
“So, I’ve got a few excuses up my sleeve. It’s going to be tough, but life would be boring if it wasn’t filled with challenges, wouldn’t it?”
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We join Hoy on the first two days of his incredible adventure as he battles his mind, his body, and the elements alongside a host of sporting legends including fellow Laureus Academy Member, Miguel Induráin.
“The mountains are always a fight with oneself,” said the five-time Tour de France winner. “It’s a fight of your power, of your strength, with nature.”
Fifty years on from recording the first ‘Perfect 10’ in Olympic gymnastics at the 1976 Games, Laureus Academy Member Nadia Comăneci reflects on that historic moment.
“I had no idea what happened,” she said. “First of all, we thought something was wrong with the scoreboard. I didn’t even have time to think about it, and I didn’t know there was history made. Nobody told me until much later.”
We also head to the prestigious Hurlingham Club in London for the Alfred Dunhll Padel Classic, as padel pros, Laureus Ambassadors, celebrities and fans share the court for a special cause, before making a final pitstop in Mexico City for the conclusion of the latest Gumball 3000, the world’s premier supercar spectacle.
Amongst the huge crowd at the finish line were young people from TRASO, a Laureus-supported boxing program, and Laureus Academy Member and Gumball racer Lennox Lewis, as he reconnected with the project once again – 10 years after his first visit.
He said: “Sport is a language that kids understand. It’s really important that Laureus are helping kids because they are the future.”
Find Spirit of Sport on your TV planner, on Amazon Prime Video 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.
“The mountains are always a fight with oneself,” said the five-time Tour de France winner. “It’s a fight of your power, of your strength, with nature.”
Fifty years on from recording the first ‘Perfect 10’ in Olympic gymnastics at the 1976 Games, Laureus Academy Member Nadia Comăneci reflects on that historic moment.
“I had no idea what happened,” she said. “First of all, we thought something was wrong with the scoreboard. I didn’t even have time to think about it, and I didn’t know there was history made. Nobody told me until much later.”
We also head to the prestigious Hurlingham Club in London for the Alfred Dunhll Padel Classic, as padel pros, Laureus Ambassadors, celebrities and fans share the court for a special cause, before making a final pitstop in Mexico City for the conclusion of the latest Gumball 3000, the world’s premier supercar spectacle.
Amongst the huge crowd at the finish line were young people from TRASO, a Laureus-supported boxing program, and Laureus Academy Member and Gumball racer Lennox Lewis, as he reconnected with the project once again – 10 years after his first visit.
He said: “Sport is a language that kids understand. It’s really important that Laureus are helping kids because they are the future.”
Find Spirit of Sport on your TV planner, on Amazon Prime Video 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.
