21 World Leaders Who Were Once Professional Athletes

Before serving in the United States Congress and heading the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Jack Kemp was an elite professional quarterback. He steered the Buffalo Bills to back-to-back American Football League championships in 1964 and 1965, earning the league Most Valuable Player award.

Reigning as King of Sweden from 1907 to 1950, Gustaf V was passionate about competitive tennis. Playing matches across Europe under the alias Mr G, the monarch helped popularize the sport throughout Scandinavia and later earned induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Following in the athletic footsteps of his father King Olav V, Harald V represented Norway in three consecutive Summer Olympics between 1964 and 1972. Serving as his team flagbearer in Tokyo, the crown prince went on to win gold at the 1987 World Championships before ascending the Norwegian throne in 1991.

Widely hailed as the Golden Boy of Italian soccer, Gianni Rivera captained AC Milan to multiple European Cup trophies and claimed the 1969 Ballon d'Or. After hanging up his boots, Rivera transitioned to national governance, serving in the Italian Parliament and as Undersecretary of State for Defense.

One of the most prolific goalscorers in soccer history, Romario spearheaded Brazil to glory at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and was named FIFA World Player of the Year. Entering politics in Rio de Janeiro, he won election to the Brazilian Federal Senate in 2014 and later served as the body Vice President.

Before his historic twenty-six-year presidency of Finland began in 1956, Urho Kekkonen was a dominant track and field competitor. In 1924, he won the Finnish national championship in the high jump. He later served as president of the Finnish Olympic Committee, leading national delegations abroad.

Regarded as Georgia greatest soccer export, Kakha Kaladze spent nine seasons as a defender for AC Milan, winning two UEFA Champions League trophies and Serie A. Turning to politics, Kaladze served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy before winning election as Mayor of Tbilisi in 2017.

Before serving as President of Hungary from 2010 to 2012, Pal Schmitt reached the pinnacle of international fencing. Schmitt represented Hungary in team epee across three Olympic Games, capturing gold medals at Mexico City in 1968 and Munich in 1972. He later served as a vice president of the IOC.

Manny Pacquiao achieved legendary status as the only boxer in history to capture twelve major world titles across eight separate weight divisions. While still fighting top contenders in pay-per-view main events, Pacquiao served in the Philippine House of Representatives and later as a national Senator.

Long before serving as the 38th president of the United States, Gerald Ford was a standout college football athlete. He played center and linebacker for the undefeated Michigan Wolverines in 1932 and 1933. After graduation, he turned down professional contracts from the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.

Before commanding Allied forces in Europe and serving two terms in the White House, Dwight Eisenhower was a gifted multisport athlete. He starred on the West Point varsity football team as a running back and linebacker. In the summer of 1911, he pitched in the minor leagues under the pseudonym Wilson.

Olav V reigned as King of Norway from 1957 until 1991, earning great respect as the People's King. Decades before taking the throne, Crown Prince Olav competed at the highest tier of international sailing. At the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, his yacht Norna took first place in the six-meter class.

Before his reign as the final King of the Hellenes began in 1964, Constantine II achieved top honors in international sailing. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, the twenty-year-old crown prince skippered his boat Nirefs to victory in the Dragon class, bringing home the first Greek gold medal since 1912.

Monaco sovereign Prince Albert II spent over a decade competing in international winter sports. Representing his principality as both driver and pusher, Albert took part in five Winter Olympic Games from Calgary 1988 to Salt Lake City 2002. He later joined the International Olympic Committee in 1985.

Decades before his brutal military dictatorship in Uganda began in 1971, Idi Amin was recognized primarily as a dominant pugilist. Standing over six feet tall in the British King's African Rifles, Amin captured the Ugandan light heavyweight championship in 1951 and defended the title until 1960.

Elected President of Mongolia in 2017, Khaltmaagiin Battulga rose to prominence through the Soviet martial art of sambo and traditional wrestling. Battulga competed on the national team for over a decade, winning the 1989 World Cup in Ulan Bator. He later chaired the Mongolian Judo Association.

Hungary long-serving prime minister Viktor Orban maintained an active competitive soccer career well into his political leadership. Orban played as a midfielder for Hungarian club FC Felcsut. In 2001, while in his first term as premier, official cabinet meetings had to be adjusted around team training.

Serving as mayor of Kyiv since 2014, Vitali Klitschko was previously one of the most dominant heavyweight boxers in sports history. Holding both WBO and WBC world titles, Dr. Ironfist logged forty-five career victories. He retired from the ring with the second highest knockout percentage in division history.

Before serving two terms as the 38th Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger revolutionized bodybuilding as an elite international sport. He captured the prestigious Mr. Olympia crown seven times between 1970 and 1980. His unmatched conditioning established a global standard for professional fitness.

Before becoming the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018, Imran Khan was one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history. He played international cricket for over two decades, amassing 3,807 runs and 362 Test wickets. In 1992, he captained Pakistan to an unforgettable World Cup triumph in Melbourne.

George Weah made global sports history in 1995 when he became the first and only African player to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year. He starred for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan before entering politics. In 2017, Weah was elected the 25th President of Liberia.