List of Top Ten Athletes Who Turned Politicians

List of Top Ten Athletes Who Turned Politicians

Athletes are frequently observed doing occupations other than sports in the world of sports and athletics, whether as a hobby or by choice. Moving on to politics, did you know the top 10 athletes who became politicians? Yes, if you, like most people, are taken aback.

Some politicians are well-known ex-athletes. Similarly, we have listed the top ten athletes who become politicians in today’s list.

Furthermore, some of the sportsmen listed here have fascinating backstories. So make sure to read it all the way through.

Top Ten Athletes Who Turned Athletes

Jon Runyan is ten.

If you’re a football fan, you’re probably familiar with the name Jon Runyan.

Aside from being a former NFL offensive lineman, he is also a US Congressman.

Runyan entered politics following a stellar 13-year career in American football.

He currently belongs to the Republican Party.

Furthermore, Runyan won the Democratic primary in 2010 by defeating Democratic incumbent John Adler.

However, in 2014, Runyan expressed his unhappiness with his fellow Republican lawmakers over the government shutdown problem, and he stated his intention to run for re-election.

He is currently ranked tenth among athletes who have become politicians.

Dave Bing is number nine.

Dave Bing is one of two basketball players on this list who went on to become politicians.

Dave Bing, the ninth person on the list, is a former mayor of Detroit, Michigan.

In terms of his professional basketball career, Bing played from 1966 until 1978.

He was so proficient at the sport that he was selected Rookie of the Year while playing with the Detroit Pistons in 1975-1976.

Not only that, but Bing is a Hall of Famer and a seven-time NBA All-Star guard.

Bing entered politics as a Democrat in 2008. Soon after, in 2009, he announced his intention to run for Mayor of Detroit.

However, Bing had a number of health difficulties as well as low approval ratings.

Kevin Johnson is number eight.

Kevin Johnson is the second former NBA player to enter politics. Johnson, who is ranked eighth, is a well-known and well-respected NBA player.

From 1987 until 2000, he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association.

He is also a three-time All-Star, as well as the recipient of the Most Improved Player award in 1988-1989.

Similarly to his sporting career, Johnson has done an excellent job as mayor in addressing several critical societal issues.

He addressed issues such as gang violence, arts development, homeless assistance, and many others.

As a result, he deserves a spot on the list of the top 10 athletes who became politicians.

Andriy Shevchenko is number seven.

Andriy Shevchenko is a former Ukrainian professional soccer player who became a politician, ranking seventh on the list of the top ten players who became politicians.

During his 17-year professional career, Shevchenko played for clubs such as Chelsea, AC Milan, and Dynamo Kyiv.

Shevchenko played for AC Milan, which won the UEFA Champions League in 2003.

In addition, he helped his country by scoring 48 goals in international competitions.

Furthermore, despite having supported the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine since the late 1990s, Shevchenko only became involved in politics after retiring from soccer in 2012.

However, after his failed political run, he returned to sports.

Imran Khan is number six.

Imran Khan is one of the world’s most well-known and generally recognized top 10 athletes turned politicians.

He is, in fact, placed sixth on the list.

Khan’s political success is largely attributable to his celebrity from his professional cricket career.

The former cricketer was so good at sportsmanship that he was captain of Pakistan’s national squad.

Not to mention that admirers still refer to him as a legend.

Khan’s cricket career began at the age of 16, gradually progressing to the international stage.

During his two-decade career, he earned a spot on the list of the greatest players of all time.

Above all, he led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.

Besides, winning for his country wasn’t enough for him; he needed to do more.

Khan aspired to enter politics in order to assist his country to thrive.

As a result, he entered politics after retiring in 1994.

Khan is currently the Prime Minister of Pakistan and is well-liked and respected throughout the country.

Kenneth Dryden is number five.

Kenneth Dryden is a politician and former NHL goalkeeper from Canada.

Furthermore, he is placed fifth among the top 10 athletes who became politicians.

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Not to mention that he was a hockey legend in his day.

He is still regarded as one of the finest, having led his country to six Stanley Cup victories (1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979).

Furthermore, his name is engraved on the Hockey Hall of Fame plates.

Despite the fact that his professional hockey career ended in 1979, he remained involved in the sport as a commentator and sports executive.

Similarly, in the federal election, Dryden joined the Liberal Party of Canada and stood for the House of Commons.

He then became the Minister of Social Development after being elected to the Canadian Parliament.

Jesse Ventura is number four.

Jesse Ventura, often known as “The Body” in the wrestling industry, is a prominent American professional wrestler in the WWF.

Similarly, the former wrestler was a well-known figure in his generation.

He brightened up the wrestling entertainment industry with his own character.

To be clear, he is not only a wrestler; he is also a former member of the United States Navy.

During the Vietnam War, he was a member of the US Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team.

But, most crucially, from 1991 to 1995, Ventura served as Mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Chris Lytle is number three.

Chris Lytle is ranked third on today’s list and the only athlete from the combat sports business.

Lytle is regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists/boxers of all time.

Not to mention his UFC career, when he competed in the Welterweight division.

Similarly, he is the Cage Rage Welterweight Champion.

Lytle also works as a full-time fireman.

Lytle did not confine himself to these areas.

He first entered politics in 2012, when he ran for Indiana State Senate District 28.

He was defeated in the election. Despite his efforts, his political career was never successful.

Jim Bunning is number two.

If you like baseball, you already know who he is. Jim Bunning is ranked second among the top ten athletes who became politicians.

Bunning pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Detroit Tigers from 1955 to 1971 in his professional baseball career.

Not to mention that some of his innings are considered to be among the finest in baseball history.

They are, in fact, so good that they outperform some of the sport’s finest players.

Furthermore, Bunning has the second-most career strikeouts in MLB history.

In 1996, Bunning’s name was chiseled into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Bunning, on the other hand, became a member of the city council after returning to Kentucky, and then became a member of the state senate and a Junior US Senator.

Bunning opted not to run for re-election in 2010 due to a lack of funding.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the first.

He doesn’t require an introduction for the number one ranked athlete turned politician.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a legend in his own right.

Nobody in this day and age is unfamiliar with him. Furthermore, Schwarzenegger is revered and looked up to as the most influential figure in the worlds of bodybuilding, powerlifting, and weightlifting.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the well-known movie star

His most important awards include five Mr. Universe titles and seven Mr. Olympia titles. Aside from these, Schwarzenegger has won a variety of events and competitions.

Furthermore, at the age of 75, Schwarzenegger kept his body in shape by exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

He became an action hero after achieving success in bodybuilding.

The Austrian-American icon, like his bodybuilding career, dominated the acting world in no time.

To be clear, he is so well-liked and revered that his name is etched into a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Furthermore, our action star went into politics and became the 38th governor of California during the 2003 recall election.

With all of his accomplishments and success, Arnold Schwarzenegger merits the top slot more than anyone else on the list.

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Conclusion

The aforementioned legends established their legacies and ascended to greater heights in both sports and politics.

There is much we can learn from them. So, which one on the list is your favorite?

Please leave a comment below.