▲Sprinter Usain Bolt caused a bit of a stir when he announced through his Twitter profile that he had signed for a soccer team, whose identity he would reveal this Tuesday, 27 February. In the end, it was a marketing ploy to promote a UNICEF charity game where the Jamaican will captain the Soccer Aid World XI against England Aid, led by singer Robbie Williams.

So in lieu of Bolt's little scheme, we're taking a minute to remember the athletes who have actually switched sports.

▲Mystery resolved: the Olympic superstar retired from the track in 2017, and will captain the Soccer Aid World XI which will face Robbie Williams' England Aid XI, in Old Trafford.

▲The announcement was part of a marketing stunt for the UNICEF charity match which will take place on June 10.

▲The Jamaican loves soccer and this announcement caused a bit of a media stir, due to often stating his desire to play for Manchester United.

▲Michael Jordan is considered by most to be the greatest in basketball history. He broke records and collected a ton of titles with the Chicago Bulls and American national team.

▲In 1993 he announced his switch to baseball. He completed one season in the minor leagues with the Chicago White Sox, Birmingham Barons, and Scottsdale Scorpions. A year later he returned to the Bulls.

▲The Italian's story is one of adapting and overcoming. The driver was a well-known formula 1 driver, but suffered a serious accident on the track and had his two legs amputated.

▲Zanardi wouldn't be kept down. In less than two years he returned to racing in a specially adapted car. He later took up hand cycling and competed at the Paralympics.

▲At the Rio Olympics in 2016, aged 49, Zanardi won two gold medals and a silver, becoming the most successful paralympic handcycler.

▲A star for over 20 years with AC Milan and the Italian national team, in June 2017, aged 49, he debuted as a professional tennis player.

▲His first attempt wasn't too successful. Maldini and his doubles partner, Stefano Landonio, lost in the first round of the Milan Challenger.

▲The French keeper who won the World Cup in 1998 and starred for Olympique Marseille and Manchester United, hung up his gloves in 2007.

▲But he kept himself busy. In 2008 he began his Motorsport career, and has competed in competitions such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

▲One of Ukrainian soccer's biggest heroes, he starred for several big European teams, including AC Milan. He is currently the coach of the Ukrainian National Team.

▲He hung up his boots after Euro 2012, and made his debut as a professional golfer at the Challenge Tour the following year. He has continued to play golf as a hobby but is focused on his coaching career.

▲Former German national team 'keeper and Werder Bremen cult hero, Wiese decided to become a wrestler.

▲Looking somewhat unrecognizable from his goalkeeping days, Wiese joined the WWE and won his first match.

▲One of Argentina's greatest stars, the former target man spent time at Fiorentina and Roma. But chronic knee problems forced him to leave soccer in 2005.

▲He turned out to be a polo star, and in 2011, won a friendly tournament with Boca Juniors in Argentina. Unfortunately due to his knee problems he also had to leave the sport behind.

▲Once one of the stars of MMA, Rousey was actually a judoka first. Ronda competed in two Olympic games, and even won medals.

▲She swapped the mat for the octagon and became a UFC champion before recently joining the WWE.

▲The Canadian driver divided his time between motorsports and professional mountain bike racing between 1994 and 1995.

▲But he stuck with the racing track and has competed in CART, Champ Car World Series, and IndyCar Series.

▲The American fighter is a WWE champion and has fought in the UFC. He is known as 'The Beast Incarnate' due to his size and strength.

▲In 2004 he got tired of the WWE and left to play American Football, where he played in several games for the Minnesota Vikings. The following year, however, saw Lesnar return to professional wrestling.

▲The ex-England star played for eight teams in a career that lasted from 1998 to 2012.

▲He retired in 2012 due to recurring injuries. In 2013 he tried his luck at professional golf.

▲One of the big stars of the Boston Celtics' 1980s team which won several NBA championships, Ainge had previously played baseball.

▲He made his professional debut in the MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1977.

▲Duncan is now retired, but the former San Antonio Spurs was one of, if not the best, power forwards in NBA history.

▲Before basketball, Duncan competed in swimming. He left the sport when the Olympic pool in his hometown in the US Virgin Islands was destroyed by a hurricane. Tim had to swim in the sea and was put off by sharks. Sounds fair.

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Ronda Rousey and Alex Zanardi

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Ronda Rousey and Alex Zanardi

Famous athletes who switched sports!

Usain Bolt will 'debut' in a UNICEF charity soccer match

04/09/20 por StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Athletes

Sprinter Usain Bolt caused a bit of a stir when he announced through his Twitter account that he had signed for a soccer team, whose identity he would reveal this Tuesday, 27 February. In the end, it was a marketing ploy to promote a UNICEF charity game where the Jamaican will captain the Soccer Aid World XI against England Aid XI, led by singer Robbie Williams.

So in lieu of Bolt's little scheme, we're taking a minute to remember the athletes who have actually switched sports.