For an athlete, the prime years of their lives are their glory days. But slowly, their performance deteriorates with age, by which point they decide to go for retirement.
So, what do retired athletes do from thereon for the rest of their lives? Players like Shaquille O’Neal become business owners and commentators. Others turn to coaching the next generation. Even players like Michael Jordan shift sports to try something different. We’ve described this practice in detail in the article about athletes who crossed over into other sports.
But did you know that many of these players turn to politics? Some try to find ways to improve the situations they’ve had to face. Others just want to give back to their country or states by serving the public. Here are some notable athletes of our time who turned to politics.
Sportsmen That Are Engaged in Politics
It was no easy task to select the individuals for the list since we had to consider almost all the games in the world. The following sportsmen politicians are among the ones making the most impact on the sporting society.
Manny Pacquiao
There isn’t a boxing fan out there who hasn’t heard about the stellar career of Manny Pacquiao. Hailed as one of the best technical boxers out there, Manny is the only boxer in history to hold the championship across 8 different weight classes.
To date, he has won a total of 12 different world titles. He has conquered the challenge of moving up to another class. Facing opponents who have been masters of the particular division, he beat every contender, whether in points or knockouts.
Manny Pacquiao is one of the professional athletes who has maintained a long reign. In boxing, he is the only player to have remained a champion for four decades due to his physical prowess.
As for his entry into politics, which took place back in 2010, at the time, he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for Sarangani. His term lasted six years in this post, where he helped pass 20 bills.
By 2016, Manny was elected as a senator in the Philippines. Although he was not one of the Senate’s active members (with only 31 bills passed), he did actively work to bring 50,000 COVID-19 test kits to the Filipino people.
George Weah
If we’re talking about politicians who were pro-athletes, then we can’t forget about the current president of Liberia, George Weah. He made football history by becoming the only African professional sports player to win the Ballon d’Or.
Sports news reporters have also called him one of the most blessed players the game has ever seen. His achievements are legendary in the international scene as well as the leagues. Representing Liberia, he has scored 18 goals in international match fixtures.
He has spent most of his career in Italian, French, and English clubs, training and honing his skills. He was known for being a player who was quick on his feet. He was also an exceptional finisher. His achievements secured him a spot in the FIFA 100 list of greatest living sportsmen.
He’s also among the many athletic politicians in the 2018 friendly match. His entrance to politics came soon after his retirement. To change the political landscape, he formed the Congress for Democratic Change. During the first year, he ran as a candidate for president. But he was unsuccessful.
This streak would continue as he ran for vice president in 2011. Fast forward 6 years, and he was finally elected as the president of Liberia in the 2017 election taking the place of Joseph Boakai, the last incumbent president.
Now he’s leading the country to a new era and is one of the greatest politicians who are athletic at the same time. What an achiever!
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s journey from a bodybuilding immigrant to a Hollywood superstar and ultimately to a prominent political figure is a testament to his determination and ability to reinvent himself in different spheres of life.
When he moved to the United States in 1968 to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional bodybuilder, he quickly achieved his intended goals by winning the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition multiple times over the next few years.
Schwarzenegger’s success in bodybuilding laid the foundation for his transition into acting. He starred in a series of successful movies, including the “Terminator” franchise, which catapulted him to international fame and solidified his position as one of Hollywood’s leading action stars.
However, Schwarzenegger’s ambitions didn’t stop at entertainment. In a surprising turn of events, he officially announced his candidacy for the California gubernatorial recall election in 2003, eventually becoming the 38th Governor of California in 2003, replacing Gray Davis.
His campaign capitalized on his celebrity status, and he presented himself as a fiscally conservative yet socially moderate candidate. During his two terms in office (2003-2011), Schwarzenegger tackled various issues, including the state’s budget crisis, environmental policy, and healthcare reform.
He was known for his pragmatic approach, working across party lines to accomplish his goals. One of his significant achievements was the passage of AB 32, a landmark environmental law that aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California.
Sachin Tendulkar
Perhaps one of the most famous on the list of athletes and politicians, Sachin Tendulkar is still regarded as the best batsman cricket has ever produced. His talent with the bat has yielded great results for the Indian National Team for decades.
No other player holds the run for the highest run scorer in international and Test cricket. It’s a feat that no one has been able to beat, even today.
He is also among the few sportsperson-politicians the government has acknowledged with awards like the Khel Ratna award and Padma Shri.
But like all great athletes who are now politicians, he drew an end to his career in 2012. It was also the same year he was elected as a Member of the Parliament. He served as an MP until 2018.
As a member of the Parliament, he took on completed projects successfully. Looking at the numbers, around 60% of all the initiatives Tendulkar took were successfully finished.
Nurturing a huge fondness for the sport, it’s not surprising that he also worked to pass motions that improved the sporting situation in India. He was one of the prominent voices that pushed to include sports as a part of a student’s school curriculum and not just an optional activity.
Conclusion
Athletes who became politicians turned their careers around right after their retirement. Their popularity and achievements made them perfect leading characters in the eyes of people. In all cases, they worked as hard as possible to ensure they fulfilled their responsibilities, and the fantastic individuals we covered today are prime examples of that.
FAQ
Is Shaquille O’Neal a Politician?
Former Lakers player Shaquille O’Neal owns a number of businesses. While many have speculated that he is into politics, he has yet to get into it.
Is Arnold Schwarzenegger Still the Governor of California?
Arnold’s run as the Governor of California lasted from 2003 to 2011. He served for two back-to-back terms. Although he’s not a Governor now, he is still actively involved in politics.
