Nelson Mandela praised the power of sport to break down racial barriers.
"Sport is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers," Mandela famously said. "Sport has the power to change the world."
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Superstar athletes paid tribute to the former South African President and anti-apartheid revolutionary.
Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic are among the champions who paid tribute to Mandela on what would have been his 101st birthday, July 18th.
The Laureus Sports Awards Foundation issued this video with players detailing how Mandela's example inspired them.
"Nelson Mandela is one of those people that always brought light," Djokovic said. "His strength to come out and fight for what is right is something that obviously motivates and inspires myself and every person on this planet."
Four-time Olympic gold-medal champion Serena Williams said Mandela inspired her to dream big.
"The words he said about sport—it doesn't matter what color you are, you can still be the best," Serena said.
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Federer, whose mother, Lynette, was born in South Africa, has supported educational and philanthropic causes in South Africa through his Roger Federer Foundation.
"My mom is from South Africa, so I feel very connected to the country," Federer said. "And he's changed the country in a very positive way."
Federer, who has visited the South African schools his Foundation supports several times, was voted second to Mandela in a 2011 international survey to find the world's most respected, admired and trusted personality.
"He's been very influential, an amazing personality, you know, believed in something, had to pay a big price for it," Federer said of Mandela, who spent 27 years in apartheid jails. "Someone you can definitely look up to and that's very important for me."
Photo credit: Roger Federer Foundation