Outside of his boxing life, he is also heavily involved in politics. He has served as a Senator of the Philippines since 2016. He became the president of the PDP-Laban party, the ruling political party of the Philippines. He was voted out of the position in 2021 after speaking out against President Rodrigo Duterte.

2 / 30 Fotos

Caitlyn Jenner -

Jenner was known as the "world's greatest athlete." Before her transition, she won a gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games. She was also a college football player and later a race car driver.

3 / 30 Fotos

Caitlyn Jenner -

In 2021, Caitlyn Jenner is trying to break into the world of American politics. As a Republican, Jenner is running for Governor of California.

4 / 30 Fotos

Arnold Schwarzenegger -

Arnold Schwarzenegger was the youngest man ever to win the title of Mr. Olympia. He was only 23 years old! He went on to win the bodybuilding competition six years in a row.

5 / 30 Fotos

Arnold Schwarzenegger -

Schwarzenegger became an American citizen in 1983, and 20 years later he was elected Governor of California. A Republican, he was in office from 2003 until 2011.

6 / 30 Fotos

Jesse Ventura -

Ventura, also known as "The Body," was a key part of the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). Part of his fame was his long-standing feud with Hulk Hogan. He is in the WWE Hall of Fame.

7 / 30 Fotos

Jesse Ventura -

Ventura radically transformed when he became a politician in 1991. He became the mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. He then became the Governor of Minnesota in 1999. He 'gave up' politics in 2003, but still remains politically active on social media and TV. He is now part of the Green Party (GPUS).

8 / 30 Fotos

Kevin Johnson -

Johnson is one of the only players in history to average 20 points and 12 assists in a season. He was also a three-time All-Star point guard during his sports career. Safe to say, he is a basketball legend.

9 / 30 Fotos

Kevin Johnson -

Johnson also made history after his basketball career by becoming the first African-American mayor of Sacramento in 2008. A Democrat, he remained in office until 2016.

10 / 30 Fotos

Ralph Metcalfe (1910-1978) -

Metcalfe was famous for being the world's fastest human in the years 1932-34. He also used to hold the world record for the 100 meters and competed in two Summer Olympics.

11 / 30 Fotos

Ralph Metcalfe (1910-1978) -

He started as a politician in Chicago. The people of Illinois elected him to the US House of Representatives in 1971. A Democrat, he co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus and served until he passed away in 1978.

12 / 30 Fotos

Ben Nighthorse Campbell -

Campbell is an Olympian. He led the US judo team in the 1964 Summer Olympics. He went on to become a Democrat in the US House of Representatives. He then switched to being a Republican until he retired in 2004. He is one of the 44 members of the Council of Chiefs of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Tribe.

13 / 30 Fotos

Bill Bradley -

Bradley was a basketball superstar. He played in the NBA for 10 years and is even in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He spent most of his career playing for the New York Knicks.

14 / 30 Fotos

Bill Bradley -

Bradley transitioned into politics in 1978. He was a successful senator of New Jersey for 18 years. However, he lost the Democratic nomination for the US presidency to Al Gore in 2000.

15 / 30 Fotos

Heath Shuler -

Shuler was an absolute prodigy. By the time he left the University of Tennessee, he had broken nearly all of the passing records. He spent several seasons in the NFL before retiring because of a foot injury.

16 / 30 Fotos

Heath Shuler -

He was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2007. He ended his political career in 2012.

17 / 30 Fotos

Jack Kemp (1935-2009) -

Kemp was a prolific American football player. He played professionally for 13 years with teams like the Buffalo Bills.

18 / 30 Fotos

Jack Kemp (1935-2009) -

He later was a Republican member of Congress from 1971 to 1989, putting emphasis on low taxation and supply-side economics. He unsuccessfully ran for US President in 1988.

19 / 30 Fotos

Steve Largent -

Largent was such a good football player that he is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He spent most of his sports career with the Seattle Seahawks and is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in history.

20 / 30 Fotos

Steve Largent -

Largent was elected to represent Oklahoma's 1st district in the US Senate as a Republican from 1994 until 2002. He unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Oklahoma in 2002.

21 / 30 Fotos

Tom Osborne -

Osborne was both a pro sportsman and coach. He played three NFL seasons as a wide receiver. He then coached the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. Under his guidance, they won two national championships.

22 / 30 Fotos

Tom Osborne -

Osborne went on to represent Nebraska's 3rd district in the US House of Representatives. He was a Republican and continued in politics until he lost the bid for Governor of Nebraska in 2006.

23 / 30 Fotos

Wayne Messam -

Messam played for the Florida State Seminoles national championship team in 1993. After a good stint as a wide receiver, he decided to leave the Cincinnati Bengals in 1997.

24 / 30 Fotos

Wayne Messam -

Messam had more luck with his political career. He became the mayor of Miramar, Florida in 2015, and has kept the position ever since. He also tried to become the Democratic nominee for the 2020 US election, but did not qualify for any of the debates.

25 / 30 Fotos

Jim Bunning (1931-2017) -

In 1964, Jim Bunning threw a completely perfect game. He also played in nine All-Star Games. His baseball career lasted from 1955 to 1971.

26 / 30 Fotos

Jim Bunning (1931-2017) -

Bunning was a member of the US House of Representatives from 1999 until 2011. He was a senator for Kentucky for the Republican Party. He is the only person in history to be part of both the United States Senate and the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

27 / 30 Fotos

Jim Ryun -

Ryun was an incredible runner. In his teens, he was the first high schooler to run a mile in under four minutes. He went on to win a silver medal for the 1500 m at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

28 / 30 Fotos

Jim Ryun -

After his track career, Ryun served in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007. He represented Kansas' 2nd congressional district as a Republican.

Sources: (Yardbarker) (NBC Sports)

29 / 30 Fotos

0 / 30 Fotos

Manny Pacquiao -

Pacquiao is considered one of the best boxers in history. He is the only boxer to have won world championships across four decades. He is now the oldest welterweight world champion.

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1 / 30 Fotos

Manny Pacquiao -

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2 / 30 Fotos

Caitlyn Jenner -

Jenner was known as the "world's greatest athlete." Before her transition, she won a gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games. She was also a college football player and later a race car driver.

Getty Images

3 / 30 Fotos

Caitlyn Jenner -

In 2021, Caitlyn Jenner is trying to break into the world of American politics. As a Republican, Jenner is running for Governor of California.

Getty Images

4 / 30 Fotos

Arnold Schwarzenegger -

Arnold Schwarzenegger was the youngest man ever to win the title of Mr. Olympia. He was only 23 years old! He went on to win the bodybuilding competition six years in a row.

Getty Images

5 / 30 Fotos

Arnold Schwarzenegger -

Schwarzenegger became an American citizen in 1983, and 20 years later he was elected Governor of California. A Republican, he was in office from 2003 until 2011.

Getty Images

6 / 30 Fotos

Jesse Ventura -

Ventura, also known as "The Body," was a key part of the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). Part of his fame was his long-standing feud with Hulk Hogan. He is in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Getty Images

7 / 30 Fotos

Jesse Ventura -

Getty Images

8 / 30 Fotos

Kevin Johnson -

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9 / 30 Fotos

Kevin Johnson -

Johnson also made history after his basketball career by becoming the first African-American mayor of Sacramento in 2008. A Democrat, he remained in office until 2016.

Getty Images

10 / 30 Fotos

Ralph Metcalfe (1910-1978) -

Metcalfe was famous for being the world's fastest human in the years 1932-34. He also used to hold the world record for the 100 meters and competed in two Summer Olympics.

Getty Images

11 / 30 Fotos

Ralph Metcalfe (1910-1978) -

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12 / 30 Fotos

Ben Nighthorse Campbell -

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13 / 30 Fotos

Bill Bradley -

Bradley was a basketball superstar. He played in the NBA for 10 years and is even in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He spent most of his career playing for the New York Knicks.

Getty Images

14 / 30 Fotos

Bill Bradley -

Bradley transitioned into politics in 1978. He was a successful senator of New Jersey for 18 years. However, he lost the Democratic nomination for the US presidency to Al Gore in 2000.

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15 / 30 Fotos

Heath Shuler -

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16 / 30 Fotos

Heath Shuler -

He was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2007. He ended his political career in 2012.

Getty Images

17 / 30 Fotos

Jack Kemp (1935-2009) -

Kemp was a prolific American football player. He played professionally for 13 years with teams like the Buffalo Bills.

Getty Images

18 / 30 Fotos

Jack Kemp (1935-2009) -

He later was a Republican member of Congress from 1971 to 1989, putting emphasis on low taxation and supply-side economics. He unsuccessfully ran for US President in 1988.

Getty Images

19 / 30 Fotos

Steve Largent -

Getty Images

20 / 30 Fotos

Steve Largent -

Largent was elected to represent Oklahoma's 1st district in the US Senate as a Republican from 1994 until 2002. He unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Oklahoma in 2002.

Getty Images

21 / 30 Fotos

Tom Osborne -

Getty Images

22 / 30 Fotos

Tom Osborne -

Osborne went on to represent Nebraska's 3rd district in the US House of Representatives. He was a Republican and continued in politics until he lost the bid for Governor of Nebraska in 2006.

Getty Images

23 / 30 Fotos

Wayne Messam -

Messam played for the Florida State Seminoles national championship team in 1993. After a good stint as a wide receiver, he decided to leave the Cincinnati Bengals in 1997.

Getty Images

24 / 30 Fotos

Wayne Messam -

Getty Images

25 / 30 Fotos

Jim Bunning (1931-2017) -

In 1964, Jim Bunning threw a completely perfect game. He also played in nine All-Star Games. His baseball career lasted from 1955 to 1971.

Getty Images

26 / 30 Fotos

Jim Bunning (1931-2017) -

Getty Images

27 / 30 Fotos

Jim Ryun -

Ryun was an incredible runner. In his teens, he was the first high schooler to run a mile in under four minutes. He went on to win a silver medal for the 1500 m at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Getty Images

28 / 30 Fotos

Jim Ryun -

After his track career, Ryun served in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007. He represented Kansas' 2nd congressional district as a Republican.

Sources: (Yardbarker) (NBC Sports)

Getty Images

29 / 30 Fotos

Sports stars who became politicians

From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Jesse Ventura

26/11/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Athletes

To become a top athlete, you have to train hard virtually non-stop. It requires absolute mastery over your body and mind. It is no wonder then that after some athletes' careers are over, they turn to another very intense profession: politics.

There is a reason people say that candidates "run for office." It takes stamina and devotion to reach the top, and athletes are already halfway there!

Click through to discover athletes-turned-politicians.