Manchester United are the club with more fans around the world than any other. And a handful of those supporters are the most talented people on the globe.
With the Paris 2024 Olympics dominating the sporting conversation, sporting excellence is jumping off the screen.
We decided to take a look at five very special Olympic gold medal winners from around the world, who have one thing in common – they are Manchester United supporters.
Usain Bolt
The most well known track and field athlete of his generation, and the fastest man of all-time, Usain Bolt.
Usain Bolt is a well known Manchester United supporter, he regularly keeps up with Red Devils games and news, and was pictured at Old Trafford just last season, and previously, above, met legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Bolt has won a staggering eight gold medals at the Olympics in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 x 100 relay. He is the world record holder at 100 metres, 9.58 seconds – that’s faster than Rasmus Hojlund!
After he decided to hang up his sprinting shoes for Jamaica, Bolt has even ventured into professional football.
He played for Australian side Central Coast Mariners, and expressed his hope: “I daydream all the time about just big things…one of my biggest is to play for Manchester United
“I think that could be my biggest dream. You can’t get bigger than that,” Goal quoted.
Bolt did not quite manage to achieve this particular dream, but he did manage the next best thing, appearing at Soccer Aid, playing at Old Trafford for the first time in 2018.
Greg Rutherford
Greg Rutherford is forever associated with one of the greatest sporting nights in British Olympic history, when he clinched a surprise gold medal in 2012 on ‘Super Saturday’, following Jessica Ennis-Hill and Mo Farah.
Rutherford competed in the Long Jump, winning gold in 2012 and following it up with a bronze medal in 2016.
He began supporting United as a child after watching the Red Devils on television and has not looked back, for better or worse.
He was presented with a Manchester United shirt by legendary captain Bryan Robson, while wearing his 2012 gold medal proudly on the Old Trafford turf.
Keely Hodgkinson
Britain’s newest track and field gold medalist at Paris 2024 is 800 metres champion Keely Hodgkinson.
She was born in Manchester and went to school with Manchester United Women’s star Ella Toone.
Expect her to pay a visit to Old Trafford early this season as a guest of honour, just like Rutherford in 2012.
She told Inside United it would be a dream to do so, if she was successful, commenting: “I’d love to [show the medal off at Old Trafford], if you’d have me! One-hundred per cent. That would be amazing.
“I think it would just be one of those moments, because it’s part of me growing up, and it’s obviously one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“I live across the road, as well, so I look at this stadium pretty much every morning when I wake up.”
Noah Lyles
The winner of one of the most dramatic 100 metre sprint finals in Olympic history, Noah Lyles won gold by 0.005 of a second.
The outspoken American caused controversy when he upset the entire NBA fandom, asking why the winners of the US based basketball league called themselves ‘world champions’.
Lyles has shown he can back up his big talk, by becoming a true world champion at the Paris Olympics, and also added a bronze in the 200 metres.
Speaking in 2023 to NBC Sports, Lyles was put on the spot and asked which team he supported, and he chose smartly.
Lyles said: “Arsenal sounded really good, but I got to go with the all-time winners, I’m gonna have to go with Manchester United.”
Darren Campbell
Manchester born British sprinter Darren Campbell triumphed at Athens 2004, beating the USA favourites as part of the 4 x 100 metre sprint relay winning team, to win a dramatic gold.
Campbell also won a 200 metre silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic games.
The now retired sprinter grew up dreaming to be a footballer, and has connections to two of Manchester United’s club legends.
Campbell presented Cristiano Ronaldo with the Sir Matt Busby Award at the 2007 player of the year awards.
Speaking a few years ago, Campbell told BBC Sport: “I was at the same school of excellence as Ryan Giggs, so I think that was when I realised I was not going to be a footballer.
“I kind of got into athletics more and focused on that, but then went back to football aged 21 and went on trial with Derby and Millwall, and I nearly signed for Plymouth.
“I am a Manchester lad – so the choice was red or blue. My favourite colour was red as a kid so there was never much doubt there. My mum is a City fan, though.”
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