# Who is the best athlete to switch sports and succeed?

> Switching sports usually humbles people. This field holds Olympic doubles, genuine two-sport professionals, and one experiment that never took.

*By YPB Team · Published September 7, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-athlete-to-switch-sports-and-succeed*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Bo Jackson** — score 1000/1000
   An All-Star in baseball and a Pro Bowl running back in the NFL at the same time.
2. **Michael Jordan** — score 600/1000
   Left basketball at his peak for minor-league baseball, then came back and won three more titles.
3. **Ester Ledecka** — score 494/1000
   Won Olympic gold in both snowboarding and alpine skiing at the same Games.
4. **Usain Bolt** — score 428/1000
   Signed with Australian club Central Coast Mariners after eight Olympic sprint golds.
5. **Rebecca Romero** — score 428/1000
   Won Olympic silver in rowing, then gold in track cycling four years later.
6. **Ronda Rousey** — score 350/1000
   Olympic judo bronze medallist who became the UFC's first women's bantamweight champion.
7. **Kurt Angle** — score 350/1000
   Won Olympic freestyle wrestling gold in 1996 with a broken neck, then became a WWE headliner.
8. **Deion Sanders** — score 350/1000
   The only man to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.
9. **Clara Hughes** — score 350/1000
   Won Olympic medals in both speed skating and road cycling.
10. **Sonny Bill Williams** — score 257/1000
   Won World Cups in rugby union, played rugby league, and boxed professionally undefeated.
11. **Randy Couture** — score 257/1000
   Went from collegiate wrestling and Olympic alternate to UFC champion in two weight classes.
12. **Tim Tebow** — score 257/1000
   Left NFL quarterbacking for years in minor-league baseball, and the switch never really landed.
13. **Brock Lesnar** — score 143/1000
   NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion, then WWE champion, then UFC heavyweight champion in four fights.
14. **Jim Thorpe** — score 143/1000
   Won Olympic gold in the decathlon and pentathlon, then played professional football and baseball.

Tags: sports, ufc, baseball, olympics, athletes