Five sports stars with surprising hobbies

The life of a professional athlete probably isn’t as glamorous as you may think, with the majority of one’s time taken up with training, practice sessions and playing matches. But what do some of these star sportspeople get up to in their spare time, other than hitting nightclubs, driving fast cars and filming TV commercials?

Believe it or not, not all athletes participate in the mainstream hobbies that the majority of us opt for in our spare time. There are some sports stars whose interests off the pitch or field are certainly off the beaten track and could be classed as totally bizarre. This article looks at what some pro athletes do to relax and what they actually get up to in their spare time – because sometimes you’ve got to just pick up your bingo dabber or fishing spear, haven’t you?

Golfer Tiger Woods

Professional golf in the modern day can be pretty much summed up in two words: Tiger Woods. Even if you haven’t watched golf, you will know who Tiger Woods is, the guy who raised the bar when it comes to the sport.

So, what does Mr Woods do for fun in his spare time when he isn’t hitting birdies on the golf course? Well, it’s spearfishing, of course! 

Spearfishing is an ancient method of fishing, adopted by many races and tribes over the years, and involves free diving into the water and attempting to spear oneself a fish. We wouldn’t expect anything less of the golfer, to be honest.

Ex-footballer David Beckham

David Beckham is probably one of the most famous names associated with football, and his world-class skills have certainly meant it remains firmly etched in our minds.

You’d think that with all of his advertising campaigns, endorsements, business endeavours and charity work that he wouldn’t have time for any hobbies, but you’d be very much mistaken.

Beckham does, in fact, participate in and enjoy the age-old martial art of fencing – and it seems that this is a past time enjoyed by other celebrities, as it was actors Will Smith and Tom Cruise who donned their own foils and introduced him to the sport in the first place. En garde!

Ex-boxer Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson certainly doesn’t need any introduction; he’s well known for his ferocious and sometimes savage boxing matches that have left his opponents flat out on the canvas. 

But what does the “Baddest Man on the Planet” do to let off some steam and relax? Golf? Kayaking? Bungee jumping?

Believe it or not, Tyson finds his inner peace in the pigeon coop. He has raised these birds from a young age and has a great fascination and interest in pigeon racing. Perhaps he’s just a big softie at heart, but it’s most certainly a unique hobby for a truly unique man!

Golfer Sergio Garcia

Spanish professional golfer Sergio Garcia isn’t just a dab hand on the golf course; he’s also taken to poker like a duck to water. He likens the card game with the game of golf, saying that the two have many elements in common, including the need for patience, strategy and focus.

Garcia might still be hot on the PGA golf tour, making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, but he’s cool as a cucumber at the poker table after deciding to learn the Texas Hol’dem rules online when he was young.

He’s netted around $35,000 in poker winnings so far, and although he started out playing online, his flair for the game has seen him play in some of the biggest poker tournaments in places like Barcelona in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, the Bahamas and Cyprus.

Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo

Already regarded by many as the best footballer in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo could possibly go on to be one of, if not THE, greatest footballers of all time. But aside from his exceptional skills on the football pitch, what does this soccer superstar get up to in his spare time?

Bingo! Yes, you DID read that right. Far from the pressures of adoring fans and the public eye, the footballing legend finds comfort in shouting “HOUSE” whilst playing bingo; it just goes to prove that the game is not purely for ladies of a “certain age”.

Ronaldo discovered bingo after moving to Old Trafford in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon when he was given a DVD version of the game as a Christmas gift – since then, he has been hooked. Let’s hope number seven stays lucky for him.

The editorial unit