5 times runners rocked it in other sports

Running is unique in the fact that it is the basis for most other sports out there. If you’re a soccer player, you have to be able to run. If you play basketball, you run. Football? Yep, you’ve got to run. Because of running’s innate link to so many other sports, there’s always a chance for some crossovers to occur, whether that means non-runners coming to running or for runners to go and try something new. Here’s a list of five times runners made the running community proud by rocking it in other sports. 

Usain Bolt plays soccer 

In 2018, eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt shifted his focus from sprinting to a career in soccer, joining an Australian club. He played several games, and even scored a couple of goals. He was eventually offered a pro contract from a Maltese team in Valetta, the island nation’s capital city, but he turned it down and decided to wrap up his life as a professional athlete.

Here it is, @usainbolt, the footballer, scores his maiden Mariners goal. What a moment! Don't think limits! ⚡️ #SWSvCCM #CCMFC 🎥@FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/X7zrqmrYCZ

— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) October 12, 2018

Colleen Quigley’s triathlon debut 

In February, American Olympic steeplechaser Colleen Quigley tried her hand at triathlon, and she did more than just finish her race—she won. Of all the sports on this list, this is undoubtedly the most similar to running (one third of the sport is a foot race), but it’s still wildly impressive that Quigley was able to get to the swimming and cycling levels needed to compete with triathletes who have been doing all three sports for years. While Quigley has said her main focus is still on the track, her win earned her a pro card, so the option is always there if she wants to pursue a career in the world of multi-sport racing.  

Andre De Grasse’s NBA experience 

In 2018, Canadian sprinting star Andre De Grasse made his NBA debut. Well, NBA All-Star Celebrity Game debut, but still, on an NBA court in front of NBA fans. As the event’s name suggests, De Grasse played alongside two teams of fellow star athletes, musicians and actors. He showed the world that he can do much more than just run fast as he put up 17 points, grabbed six rebounds and added four steals. Not too shabby for an Olympic sprinter. 

.@De6rasse 💨#RufflesCelebGame

Watch on @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/aSS5Xdufho

— NBA (@NBA) February 17, 2018

Devon Allen’s football career 

When he was in school at the University of Oregon, American Olympian Devon Allen had two career paths ahead of him: he could go pro as a hurdler, or he could chase his dream of competing in the NFL (he was a wide receiver for the Oregon Ducks). He chose to pursue life on the track, but in 2022, he ventured back to the world of football with the hope of making an NFL team. He came pretty close (much closer than most Olympic runners ever could) and earned a spot at the Philadelphia Eagles’ training camp, but he was ultimately cut. Even so, it’s impressive. 

Usain Bolt (again) 

This doesn’t necessarily count as a runner jumping into another sport, but back in 2019, Bolt attended some pre-Super Bowl festivities in Atlanta. He ended up hopping into a 40-yard dash (a classic fitness test used in the NFL Combine) and he smashed it, as one would expect. Bolt tied the NFL Combine record, covering the distance in 4.22 seconds, but he did so in sweatpants and more than a year after retiring from professional sprinting. We’re pretty sure that he probably would’ve broken the record if he’d decided to take it even just a bit more seriously.