Game Over. What athletes do after their careers are over

There comes a point in every athlete’s life when they have to part ways with their professional career and move on. In the past, these people could have been successful and famous athletes and had champion titles. And in the present, they become deputies, try their hand at acting and even put on a priest’s cassock. We tell you what former professional figure skaters, hockey players, fighters and other sports stars are doing now.

George Foreman: from heavyweights to priests

One of the most famous heavyweights of the past after the end of professional sports activities became a pastor of one of the religious movements. American for ten years traveled around the States with sermons and even built a church in Houston. However, the ring was more attractive to him than the pulpit of the church, and he put the gloves back on. In 1994, Foreman, at the age of 45 years and 299 days, won a fight with Michael Moorer and became the oldest holder of a championship belt in boxing history.

Vladislav Tretiak: goalkeeper and deputy

The legendary athlete defended the gates of CSKA and the USSR national hockey team for 15 years. During this time, he achieved tremendous success: he became a three-time Olympic champion, as well as a ten-time world champion in the national team.

After the end of his professional career, Tretiak could not completely abandon his life’s work. He became a successful coach, president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, and also decided to devote part of his time to state and political activity.

Gordon Ramsay: from the soccer field to the kitchen

Now the Briton is better known as a scandalous and brilliant chef, but in his youth he showed great promise in soccer. At 18, Ramsay was even invited to Rangers, but because of a meniscus injury, he was unable to continue his professional career in the sport.

Today Gordon masterfully spins feints in the kitchen in numerous author shows. As prizes for his successes he receives not cups and medals, but Michelin stars: Ramsay has already received 16 such awards.

Julio Iglesias: guardian of the gates and Spanish music

In his youth Iglesias was a goalkeeper for the reserve team of Real Madrid and due to his hard work in training and discipline claimed a place in the base. But he never managed to realize his sporting dream.In 19 years Julio was in a car accident, which almost caused his death. Iglesias damaged the spinal nerve and was paralyzed from the waist down for two years, but it did not break him.

The Spaniard’s desire to become famous and successful led him to the stage. It was thanks to music that he was able to overcome all the difficulties and gain worldwide fame. The singer released 80 albums in 14 languages and 300 million disks, which were sold all over the world.

Oleg Taktarov: fighter and actor

Taktarov appeared in MMA, when this sport was just gaining popularity. Then Oleg had to hold several fights a day with representatives of absolutely different schools. And no one was embarrassed by the difference of rivals in weight categories.

After Taktarov’s victory at the UFC 6 tournament in 1995, he began to offer occasional roles in movies. And, having finished his sports career, the former fighter decided to fulfill his childhood dream – to become an actor. In the United States, he played “bad Russians” or natives of the USSR. His most famous roles were in the films “Officer Wounded”, “Predators” and “15 minutes of fame”.

To date, Oleg Taktarov has a sufficient number of works on the account, and his filmography is only growing.

Alexei Yagudin: from the ice to the stage of the theater

The 2002 Olympic champion, four-time world champion and pupil of Tatiana Tarasova has finished his sports career due to numerous injuries.

Today Yagudin leads television projects related to figure skating: “Ice Age. Children”, “Melting Ice”. The former athlete also manages to star in films and take part in theatrical productions. For example, in 2008, he played the President of the Russian Federation in the satirical play “The President’s Vacation” at the Satire Theater. In addition, Alexei plays in an entreprise performance “Panic, or Men on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” based on the play by the Finnish playwright Mulluaho.