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8 pictures and videos that prove Nelson Mandela was a sporting icon

From inspiring a nation to Rugby World Cup success to his stunning appearance at the 2003 Special Olympics.

WHEN SOUTH AFRICA beat the mighty All Blacks in the World Cup Final of 1995, Springbok captain Francois Pienaar declared that his team had a nation of 43 million people backing them.

The fervent support of a rugby newcomer drove the ‘Boks on to their maiden World Cup success and united a previously divided country behind a common goal. That man was Nelson Mandela.

Here are seven iconic pictures and one video, featuring Croke Park, that proves the influence the South African political icon had on sport:

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Mandela congratulates Francois Pienaar after South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 1995. (INPHO/Allsport)

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Having a chat with Liberia and AC Milan football legend George Weah in 1996. (INPHO/Allsport)

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Mandela, then aged 75, showing off his football skills in western Transvaal while on the election trail in 1994. (David Brauchli/AP)

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Michael Atherton introduces President Mandela to the England cricket team in 1996. (Rebecca Naden/PA Archive)

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Here he is threatening to chin British boxer Lennox Lewis in 2001. (Nick Potts/PA Archive)

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‘Madiba’ chats to another boxer, Chris Eubank, at the London launch of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in 2001. (Matthew Fearn/PA Archive)

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Mandela is amused by David Beckham’s corn-row hairstyle in 2003. (Credit: PA Archive)

Last, and definitely not least, is Mandela’s amazing appearance and speech at the Special Olympics, in Ireland, in 2003. He shows up on this video after 10 minutes:

YouTube credit: thejonte1

18 years ago today, Mandela wore a Springbok jersey to present the Rugby World Cup

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