They are not only Olympic athletes, but also movie stars: 5 athletes who came to Hollywood

In the context of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it is interesting to remember those Olympic athletes who managed to successfully jump into the world of film and television.

1.- Johnny Weissmuller

Of Romanian origin, he participated in the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 and in Amsterdam in 1928, representing the United States.

Weissmuller won a total of five gold medals in swimming (100 and 400 meters) and one bronze in water polo, breaking 67 world records in the process.

After his sports career, Weissmuller became the iconic Tarzan in 12 films and also starred in the ‘Jungle Jim’ series.

2.- Harold Sakata

Hawaiian Harold Sakata won a silver medal at the 1948 London Olympics in weightlifting, the lightweight division. Sakata is best known for his role as the villain Oddjob in the film “Goldfinger” (1964).

In addition to his film career, he participated in television series such as ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, ‘The Rockford Files’, ‘Quincy ME’, and ‘Gilligan’s Island’.

3.- Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey participated in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in judo in the latter event.

Rousey later excelled in mixed martial arts (UFC) and professional wrestling (WWE), which led her to the film industry. One of his most famous films is ‘Fast and Furious 7’.

Ronda Rousey (Tasia Wells/Getty Images)

4.- Hillary Maddy

Unlike other cases, Hillary Wolf started her career as an actress before she stepped into sports. Known for her role as MacAulay Culkin’s sister in ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Home Alone 2’, Wolf left acting to focus on judo.

He competed in the Olympic Games in Atlanta and Sydney, although he did not win any medals.

5.- Mary Lou Retton

Mary Lou Retton, at just 16 years old, won five medals at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, becoming a sports icon.

Although his sporting career was short, Retton took advantage of his popularity to create a career on American television, standing out for his charisma and sweetness.

Athletics 1988: Olga Korbut and Mary Lou Retton pose for a photo. Mandatory credit: Ken Levine / Allsport (Ken Levine/Getty Images)

Not only did these Olympic athletes stand out in their respective sports disciplines, but they also managed to leave a mark in the world of entertainment.

Their stories are a testament to their versatility and talent that can cross the boundaries of sports and acting.