5 champions who came into the sport too late

It is believed that professional athletes begin to hone their skills in childhood, and, more often than not, this is indeed true. Many of them were followed from an early age by scouts. Before becoming professionals, future stars gradually improved under the careful guidance of coaches. However, in sports, as in everything, there are exceptions. Some of those we know as some of the best, came into the profession as adults. In addition, history knows many examples of famous athletes whose talent was not truly revealed until years into their professional careers.

We have selected five athletes whose path to fame began later than their peers. Their example once again proves that there is no one-size-fits-all way to succeed in sports, and most importantly, it’s never too late to start.

Didier Drogba

Most professional (and even amateur) soccer players start playing as children, but legendary Chelsea striker Didier Drogba didn’t have regular experience until he was 15 years old. When he did start playing soccer, he was hampered by a lack of training and a series of injuries. Because of this, he signed his first contract when he was already 21 years old.

Didier gained recognition after his move from Le Mans to Gengam. Then in the second season Drogba scored 17 goals in 34 games and helped a year ago struggling for survival in the French Ligue 1 club to rise to a record seventh line in the standings. After that the Ivorian was interested in the top clubs in France. The following season, Drogba moved to Marseille, where he loudly declared himself, scoring 19 goals in 35 matches and receiving the title of best player of the championship.

In 2004, Drogba was taken to Chelsea, where he spent his best years. For eight years in the London club Didier Drogba won the English championship five times, four times won the FA Cup, twice won the Golden Boot, and also won the main club European trophy – Champions League. Drogba ranks fourth in goals for Chelsea.

Tim Duncan

The five-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs was born in the Virgin Islands (USA), located in the Caribbean Sea. Since childhood, Tim has been swimming hard, won many competitions in freestyle distances and set a goal to take part in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. But his plans were thwarted by Hurricane Hugo, which in 1989 destroyed the only 50-meter pool on the islands. Duncan was 13 years old at the time. The swimmer had to continue training in the ocean. But even here did not work out: Tim was very much afraid of sharks, so that by the age of 14, the ocean discouraged him from swimming.

His brother-in-law advised Duncan to try basketball. At first, the young man looked extremely clumsy on the court, although he was helped by his large stature. But soon Duncan began to do well, and in his final year at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal School, he scored 25 points per game, playing for the local team.

The player then moved to the mainland where he continued his basketball career at Wake Forest University. After four years at the university, Tim Duncan put his candidacy for the 1997 draft. He was selected as the number one pick by the San Antonio Spurs, a team he would later spend his entire NBA career with. Duncan finished playing in 2016, amassing a collection of 5 championship rings, two MVP (Most Valuable Player of the season) titles and 15 All-Star games.

Nikolay Valuev

Nikolay Valuev is the first Russian boxer in history who managed to become the world heavyweight champion. He holds the record as the tallest and heaviest world champion. Valuev’s height is 213 cm, and he weighs about 150 kg. At first, Nikolai’s parents did not realize that their son would grow up to be such a giant. In the maternity hospital, Valuev’s height was quite normal 52 centimeters. But it seems that heredity still played a role, because the family legend said that Nikolai’s great-grandfather was a giant.

In kindergarten, Nikolai began to grow rapidly and overtake his peers, and soon he began to draw the attention of sports coaches. Valuev began to engage in basketball, and quite successfully. He became the country’s champion among junior boys.

Over time, Nikolai left basketball and became a track and field athlete. He received the title of master of sports in discus throwing. But even here he did not go further.

Valuev got acquainted with boxing when he was already 20 years old, in 1993. Thanks to his impressive size and athletic training, he made his professional boxing debut in October 1993. However, Nikolai continued to compete at the amateur level at the same time. At the Goodwill Games, which took place in St. Petersburg in 1994, Valuev reached the 1/4 finals, where he lost to the future Olympic medalist, world champion and three-time European champion Alexei Lezin only after additional scoring. And this after only a year of training!

For more than 10 years of appearances on the pro ring, Valuev remained undefeated, but among his opponents there were no famous fighters – Nikolay was not interested in big promoters, not seeing in him great prospects. But in 2004 he was finally noticed by representatives of a serious German promoter company Sauerland Event, and in 2005 Valuev won the world heavyweight championship belt, defeating John Ruiz on points. The boxer suffered his first defeat in 2007 and lost the world title for a while. However, a year later, Nikolai regained the championship belt. In 2009, shortly after his defeat to David Haye, Valuev ended his professional career.

Moreno Torricelli

The story of Torricelli is truly amazing and resembles the plot of a movie: 22-year-old Italian carpenter in his spare time drives the ball for the amateur team “Caratese”. And here his national team coincidentally converges in a friendly pre-season match with the recognized European grandee Juventus Turin. Coach “Juve” notices the unknown defender Torricelli and buys him to his club for $ 40 thousand. A fairy tale!

Moreno Torricelli spent for Juventus six seasons (1992 – 1998), during which he and his team won the Italian championship, Italian Cup, UEFA Cup and Champions League three times. In addition to his sporting successes, Moreno also managed to gain the love of the fans. Fans nicknamed him “Turbo Torricelli” for his high wing speed.

After Juventus Moreno continued to play at a high level: first played for the Italian “Fiorentina”, and then – in the Spanish “Espanyol”. The footballer finished his career in the Italian “Arezzo”. Torricelli is a participant of the 1996 European Championship and the 1998 World Cup as a member of the Italian national team.

Vladimir Kuts

The childhood of the legendary Soviet track and field athlete, stayer (long-distance runner) Vladimir Kuts had a hard time. When the Great Patriotic War began, the boy finished 7th grade. At that time he managed to be at the front as a liaison in the headquarters, as well as to work as a loader and tractor driver. After the war he was sent to serve in the Baltic Fleet.

Being fond of sports, in 1948 Vladimir Kuts won the garrison cross-country competitions. Then he won in track and field competitions, showing the best result at a distance of 5000 meters. This success allowed him to get to the Fleet Championship in Tallinn, where he took 3rd place. At that time Kutsu was already 22 – the age at which many athletes already set records. Besides, Vladimir had no mentor. But in 1951 he was noticed by one of the best coaches in the country – Leonid Khomenkov. Thanks to him, Kuts began active training, and a year later, already under the guidance of another coach – Alexander Chikin, Kuts became a master of sports.

Vladimir Kuts repeatedly became a world record holder in the 5000 and 10 000 meters, and also became the USSR champion 10 times. The main victories in his career the runner won at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, when he was 29 years old. Kuts became an Olympic champion in running at his crown distances – 5000 and 10 000 meters.

The glorious achievements of Vladmir Kuts ended just 3 years after the Olympics. In 1959, due to serious health problems, he finished his professional career and became a coach. The famed runner suffered for many years from severe pains in his legs and stomach, which were caused by frostbite received while serving in the Navy.