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Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died while being restrained by Chauvin, who is white, during his arrest in Minneapolis.
Last Updated: 21/04/21 6:15am
Derek Chauvin was found guilty of all charges
Lewis Hamilton has described the jury's decision to unanimously convict Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd as a 'monumental' moment.
Writing on Instagram in reaction to the news that Chauvin had been convicted on all charges, Formula One World Champion Hamilton wrote: "JUSTICE for George! The emotions I feel right now are hard to describe.
"Derek Chauvin has been found guilty. This is the first time that a white officer has been convicted for killing a black man in Minnesota. This is monumental, George's death is not in vain.
"The result of the Derek Chauvin trial today was is the right one. Convicting him of all three charges marks a new dawn in the fight for racial justice.
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"This trial was an opportunity for the justice system to hold Derek Chauvin accountable for his actions when he took the life of George Floyd. We can now breathe a collective sigh of relief that the right decision has been met, and that justice has been served.
"Today's outcome is a sombre victory for George and his family, but it shows that our efforts to promote justice are not in vain. Black voices have been heard and action is happening. When we stand together, we can make a difference.
"But this is just one step on the path towards a more equal society. Since George's death, so many other Black people have died at the hands of the police and we must ensure the momentum of today continues. The fight isn't over, and there is more to be done, but we can consider today a glimmer of hope.
"My thoughts and prayers are with George's family. I hope they will feel a sense of peace from this result."
Former Minneapolis police officer Chauvin had denied charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, but was convicted after 10 and a half hours of deliberations.
Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died while being restrained by Chauvin, who is white, during his arrest in Minneapolis in May 2020.
George Floyd responds to police after they approached his car in Minneapolis
Video filmed by bystanders, showed Chauvin's knee pressed into Mr Floyd's neck and back for almost nine minutes as he gasped for breath.
The footage shocked the world and sparked global protests about racism and police brutality.
An unarmed Mr Floyd had been apprehended after being accused of trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes in a neighbourhood shop in Minneapolis - something senior police officers had said would not normally warrant arrest.
However, Chauvin's lawyer had argued the former officer had acted reasonably because Mr Floyd kept struggling and he had actually died due to drugs found in his system - arguments both dismissed by the guilty verdict.
How the sporting world reacted
NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released the following joint statement reacting to the news.
The statement read: "George Floyd's murder was a flash point for how we look at race and justice in our country, and we are pleased that justice appears to have been served.
"But we also recognise that there is much work to be done and the National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association, together with our newly-formed Social Justice Coalition, will redouble our efforts to advocate for meaningful change in the areas of criminal justice and policing."
NBA side Milwaukee Bucks, who boycotted an NBA play-off game last August, added their voice and welcomed the news, believing that justice had been done.
"The Bucks organisation is encouraged that justice was served by the Derek Chauvin verdict in the horrific murder of George Floyd," the statement said.
"While this decision provides accountability to this police officer for his heinous crime, we must continue to address police officers' excessive use of force and immediate escalation when engaging with people of colour."
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