4 Famous athletes who switched sports and how they fared

• Shifting from one sport to another and achieving success is not an easy task
• From basketball great Micheal Jordan to former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, there are several athletes who made headlines after switching sports
• Cech currently plays for ice hockey club Belfast Giants on loan from Oxford City Stars 

Shifting from one sport to another and achieving success is not an easy task. But there are several athletes who switched sports and made headlines after the transition. Whether it’s after retirement or due to factors such as injury, or simply wanting to try a new challenge, these sportsmen have proven to be extremely talented.

In this article, we are going to take a look at the most prominent athletes who switched sports and showed that anything is possible.

1. Michael Jordan

NBA great Micheal Jordan played baseball for a year before returning to basketball. Photo/ Fox Sports.

A name that resonates with basketball, Michael Jordan is one of the athletes who switched sports. After winning three consecutive championships in the NBA, Jordan announced that he had decided to retire from basketball to pursue a career in baseball.

The Chicago Bulls legend was at the peak of his career when he decided to end his basketball career, leaving many fans shocked. He did explain that he decided to switch baseball to fulfill his childhood dream of playing the sport and because of his father‘s influence.

Michael Jordan signed with the Chicago White Sox organization and played for the Birmingham Barons. The American batted .202 with 3 home runs, 51 RBIs and 30 stolen bases playing as an outfielder. He spent 13 months as a basketball player and even though he was not among the elites in the sport, he was the best thing to happen in basketball at the time. Jordan returned to basketball in 1995 and played until 2003 when he retired.

2. Francis Ngannou 

Next on our list of athletes who switched sports in renowned fighter Francis Ngannou. The 37-year-old Cameroonian-French became a popular figure in the sporting world following his outstanding performances in MMA.

Ngannou was signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) where he competed in the heavyweight division and was the reigning champion when he announced his decision to start a boxing career. In his boxing debut, he faced Tyson Fury and showcased his strength and mental power as an athlete by taking the WBC champion the 10-round distance. He lost the fight via split decision.

Francis Ngannou remains keen to pursue his boxing career despite suffering defeats in his first two pro fights. Photo/ CBS Sports.

In his next fight, which was against former heavyweight championship Anthony Joshua, he was knocked out in the second round. Despite not winning any of his first two fights since transitioning to boxing, Ngannou has showed the world that he can also excel in the sport.

3. Petr Cech 

One of the most talented goalkeepers the football world has ever seen, Petr Cech achieved great success during his days in the English Premier League. He won four league titles and a UEFA Champions League among other trophies playing for Chelsea and Arsenal.

Following his retirement from professional football in 2019, the legendary Czech goalie decided to switch to ice hockey and signed for Guildford Phoenix of the National Ice Hockey League Division 2 that same year. After a spell with Guildford, he moved to Oxford City Stars and currently plays for Belfast Giants on loan.

During an interview with Belfast Telegraph, Cech revealed that he used to play ice hockey growing up in addition to football and chose the latter only because of equipment cost, as per his Wikipedia.

4. Usain Bolt 

Usain St. Leo Bolt is a name that many in the sporting world are well familiar with. Bolt is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time because of his astonishing performances in several events. An eight-time Olympic gold medalist, the Jamaican is the record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay.

Usain Bolt is one of the athletes who switched sports. Photo/ Goal.com.

Following his retirement from athletics, Bolt decided to pursue a career in football and had a trial at Australian club Central Coast Mariners. During his time with the club, he played in two pre-season friendlies and scored twice before deciding not to pursue a professional career in football.