‘Heartbreaking & terrible’: Sports world mourns Notre Dame Cathedral destruction after horrific fire
Athletes, sports figures and professional clubs have joined an unrelenting chorus of support and mourning to express condolences to the French people after the world renowned Notre Dame Cathedral was engulfed by fire.
Paris became the center of the world’s grief and sorrow after one of its historic symbols was partly destroyed by a devastating fire.
France’s iconic landmark went up in flames Monday night with the roaring blaze rampaging across the building for several hours destroying numerous treasures kept inside.
READ MORE: No sign Notre Dame fire was intentional – Paris prosecutor
Messages of support have poured in from around the world with athletes being among those who shed tears over the grievous loss of the world’s cultural heritage.
2018 World Cup winner and one of the world’s most talented players Kylian Mbappé shared a picture of the burning cathedral along with a crying emoji put together with the French flag.
😭🇫🇷... pic.twitter.com/Y5y8c83qMz
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) April 15, 2019
French football stars Franck Ribéry and Paul Pogba also shared Notre Dame-dedicated posts on social media expressing sorrow and regret over the horrific fire that shocked the entire nation.
Quelle tristesse 🥺🤲🏼 Force à Paris 🇫🇷 #NotreDamepic.twitter.com/YlJ5f3l1hd
— Franck Ribéry (@FranckRibery) April 15, 2019
French football teams Paris Saint-Germain, Paris FC and FC Girondins de Bordeaux posted tearful messages on Twitter saying that people have become united and mobilized by the terrible tragedy.
Images terribles de la Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, l’un des plus beaux monuments de notre ville, en proie aux flammes. Courage à toutes les personnes mobilisées pour éteindre cet incendie.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) April 15, 2019
🙏 Tout le Paris FC souhaite bon courage à toutes les personnes mobilisées pour ce drame qui touche l'un des plus beaux monuments de Paris. https://t.co/0bhiU0p11L
— Paris FC (@ParisFC) April 15, 2019
Toutes nos pensées vont vers la ville de @Paris, les @PompiersParis qui luttent contre le sinistre et ceux qui sont affectés par cette tragédie. C'est une merveille architecturale qui est touchée ce soir. https://t.co/p85IHSpvm8
— FC Girondins de Bordeaux (@girondins) April 15, 2019
Brazilian football star Neymar asked his followers to pray for France and added a picture of Victor Hugo’s famous character Quasimodo to his Twitter post.
😢😭🇫🇷 pray for France 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/TybXWPfBDy
— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) April 15, 2019
Prominent US alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin also sent her prayers to France adding that it was “heartbreaking” to know that the world famous cathedral was on fire.
“This is unbelievable. Heartbreaking news from Paris,” the two-time Olympic champion wrote.
This is unbelievable. Heartbreaking news from Paris😔💔 https://t.co/aaBdN3IrNS
— Mikaela Shiffrin (@MikaelaShiffrin) April 15, 2019
“Going to sleep still under shock with the images we see in Paris. All my support to all Parisians and French people and authorities,” wrote Spain’s tennis ace and multiple Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, who was shattered by the terrible news from France.
Going to sleep still under shock with the images we see in Paris. All my support to all Parisians and French people and authorities. @PompiersParis@notredameparis#NotreDamedeParis
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) April 15, 2019
French Olympic champion figure skater of Russian origin Marina Anisina dedicated an Instagram post to Notre Dame saying that the fire reminded her of a horror story.
“It looks like a horror story. But unfortunately this is a sad reality. There are so many things connecting me with Notre Dame de Paris,” she wrote.
French world champion ice dancer Gabriella Papadakis also said through Instagram that the news had left her heartbroken.
