12 famous athletes who have become successful politicians

Successful athletes build their lives in different ways after completing their sports career, but more and more often representatives of sports go into politics, joining the ranks of people's deputies. This is not surprising, because sports achievements help them get votes. However, only a few get into the upper echelons of power.

Source: Day Online

Vitali Klitschko, 47 years old, Ukraine Boxer in 1996 — 2012, since 2014 Mayor of Kiev.

The boxer began his political career while still an active athlete. In 2008, he and his bloc took part in the elections to the City Council of Kiev.

Later, the UDAR party was created, which received 42 deputy mandates in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

In 2014, Klitschko was going to nominate his candidacy for the presidential election until the last moment, but eventually refused, supporting the current president Petro Poroshenko. Instead, he took part in the mayoral elections in Kiev, which he won.

Manny Pacquiao, 39 years old, Philippines Boxer in 1995 — 2017, Senator of the Philippine Parliament since 2016.

One of the best boxers of the generation entered politics long before his career ended – back in 2007.

Pacquiao founded the Liberal Party of the Philippines, later – in 2010 - won the congressional elections, and after the famous defeat from Floyd Mayweather Jr., he was safely elected senator to the Upper House of Parliament.

Manny is idolized at home, so the post of president is just around the corner. Maybe it's just a matter of time. In the meantime, he is engaged in a sports career, and very successfully.

Romario, 52, Brazil Footballer in 1979 — 2009, Senator of the Brazilian Parliament since 2015.The world champion and the winner of the Olympic silver medal finished his professional career quite late — at the age of 43.

A year later, his star was already shining in the political firmament. In 2010, he was elected to the lower house of the National Congress as a candidate of the Socialist Party of Brazil.

George Weah, 52, Liberian Footballer from 1981 to 2003, President of Liberia since January 22, 2018.

The African footballer is the first and so far the only representative of his native continent to win the most prestigious individual award of world football — the Golden Ball, which is awarded to the best footballer in the world.

In 2003, Weah ended his career and immediately began his political career, and announced his intention to run for president of his country, Liberia.

After losing, he went to study in Miami — he had long been reproached for his lack of education. After that, in 2014, he was elected to the Senate, and his direct competitor was the son of the current president, the same Johnson Sirleaf, who beat the ex-football player. Wea was elected to the Senate — he scored 78%, and the presidential offspring only 11%. And in December 2017, the Wea won the presidential election.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, 71, USA Bodybuilder in 1968 — 1980, Governor of California in 2003 — 2011."Iron Arnie" went into politics when he was in his late sixties. By that time, few people remembered his sporting past, seeing in him only the Terminator from the film of the same name.

During his tenure as governor, his rating never rose above 30%, he was hated by many. Despite this, he became one of the biggest reformers in the state government.

So, he demanded that Washington allow California to import cheaper medicines from Canada, supported the Democrats and signed laws on the introduction of the strictest standard in the United States for the content of carbon dioxide in exhaust gases, achieved an increase in the minimum hourly wage by $ 1.

Kakhaber Kaladze, 40 years old, Georgia Football player in 1993 — 2012, since 2017 the mayor of Tbilisi.Despite the first place in the lists, Kaladze did not become prime minister then.

But he still got a couple of important posts in the state, becoming Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Georgia.

In this position, he built 18 hydroelectric power plants, agreed on a discount on the transit of Russian gas.

Jose Luis Chilavert, 53, Paraguayan Footballer. Participated in two FIFA World Cups in 1998 and 2002 — as part of the national team of Paraguay.

Chilavert has not held an official post in his country, but has always reacted to the political changes and international relations of Paraguay and is a member of the Colorado Party.

And these are the words of the future president, no less.

Pal Schmitt, 76, Hungarian fencer, then President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee. He held the posts of President of Hungary, Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament and Vice-President of the European Parliament.

Pal Schmitt took a long time to reach his high post as President of Hungary. He was a prize—winner of the OI in 1968 and 1972, in parallel with sports fencing, he studied four languages - English, French, German and Spanish. Then he received two higher educations.

He worked in the hotel and restaurant business, and soon headed the administration of Hungary's largest stadium, Nepstadion. Then he was deputy chairman of the Hungarian Department of Physical Education and Sports, a member of the International Olympic Committee, Ambassador to Spain and Switzerland.

In 2010, at the age of 68, he put forward his candidacy for the presidency from the FIDESZ party. And here victory was waiting for him again. Pal Schmitt held this position for two years.

After a scandal in 2012 related to his doctoral dissertation, he resigned from office. It turned out that the work of the Bulgarian sports figure Nikolai Georgiev was practically copied in his work.

Imran Khan, 65, Pakistan Professional cricketer, then Prime Minister of Pakistan since 2018.

The legend of Pakistani cricket (this sport is almost a religion on the entire Hindustan peninsula), the heart of the national team that took the 1992 World Cup (England fell in the final).

After retiring from sports, Khan went into politics and headed the Tehrik-e-Insaf party, now one of the most popular in the country. He remains a sworn enemy of the Taliban and one of the most influential people west of the village of Wagah.

It is possible that in the future he will become the president of Pakistan, but for now — in August 2018, he took the oath of office, officially assuming the post of head of the country's government.

Kevin Johnson, 52, USA Professional basketball player who became mayor of Sacramento, California.

NBA star, Phoenix legend, 1994 World champion, 3-time participant of All-Star Matches after retiring from the sport has not disappeared anywhere.

Johnson did not go to television, did not become an expert or commentator, like many of his basketball colleagues, but plunged into politics.

In December 1998, he was elected mayor of Sacramento, the capital of California (by the way, becoming the first African–American in this post in this city). Johnson held his post until 2016, and then transferred his powers to Darrell Steinberg.

Jesse Ventura, 67, USA Professional wrestler and 38th Governor of Minnesota.

James George Janos, known as Jesse Ventura, is a professional wrestling star of the 70s and 80s.

Ventura has appeared in several Hollywood blockbusters (including Predator and Batman and Robin).

In the early 90s Ventura moved into politics and eventually became the governor of Minnesota. He held this post in 1999-2003. Currently, he hosts the weekly news show "The World through Jesse's Eyes" on the RT channel.