Stars who swapped sports, including Ash Barty, Usain Bolt, Michael Jordan and Arjen Robben and how they got on

ASH BARTY is set to have a stab at golf, after competing in tennis and cricket.

The former world tennis No1, 25, took a hiatus from the sport to play for the Twenty20 cricket team Brisbane heat.

Ash Barty has quit tennis and planning on a golf careerAFP

She returned to tennis in 2016, but recently announced her retirement from the sport.

Now, she’s taken up golf and is set to play in a series of exhibition events, alongside Ernie Els and celebrities including Pep Guardiola and Harry Kane.

Barty isn’t the first sports star to swap sports. Here’s others who have tried their hand at something else.

Arjen Robben

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid winger, 38, completed in his first ever marathon in Rotterdam over the weekend – finishing the race in a remarkable three hours, 13 minutes and 40 seconds.

Afterwards, he declared: “Not fun, it really wasn’t fun. I made it, but that’s about it.”

Arjen Robben completed the Rotterdam marathon over the weekendAFP

Usain Bolt

The legendary sprinter might have hung up his running spikes in 2017, but he did try his hand in the world of football.

Aussie club Central Coast Mariners gave Usain, then 32, the opportunity to trial with them during preseason to live out his footballing dreams.

Sadly for the Jamaican, it wasn’t to be and he was soon released.

Usain Bolt made his debut for Central Coast Mariners in 2018Getty Images – Getty

Before football, Bolt dominated the sprinting worldPA:Press Association

Michael Jordan

As far as basketball goes, the man is a living legend. Purists will argue LeBron James isn’t a patch on the man on the court.

But in 1993, after winning his third successive NBA Championship, ‘His Airness’ decided to to break in to baseball in the minor leagues, a wish his dad had had for his son.

He signed a contract with Chicago White Sox, played for their affiliate club Birmingham Barons, before representing Scottsdale Scorpions. He retired in 1995 and returned to the NBA.

Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan won three successive NBA titlesReuters

But Jordan gave it all up to play minor league baseballAFP – Getty

Ivan Lendl was a former world no.1 tennis proNews Group Newspapers Ltd

However, he thought golf was his next calling and reached a 0 handicapAFP

Ivan Lendl

A former world No.1, the Czech tennis god won eight majors and was runner-up a record 11 times.

There was no doubting his ability with a tennis racket, so he felt like taking up a challenge of playing golf when he retired in 1994.

And he scored some success, reportedly reaching a handicap of 0 and competing in his fair share of celebrity golf tournaments, including his own.

Fabien Barthez won the league title at Man UnitedPA:Press Association

Now, Barthez lives in the fast lane driving racing carsAFP – Getty

Fabien Barthez

The madcap French goalie, famed for his outrageous antics on the pitch for his country and at Man United, needed to find a thrill when he quit football.

Being a man who loved fast cars, Barthez decided to venture into the world of motorsport.

Incredibly, he has competed in four LeMans races after taking up the sport in 2008.

Time Wiese was a fearless goalie playing in the BundesligaAFP

He swapped his area for the ring, wrestling in the WWEAFP or licensors

Tim Wiese

They’re right what they say, you have to be slightly mad to be a goalkeeper.

Like Barthez, the German shotstopper needed to find another thrill… he thought he’d step into the ring with the WWE’s finest in 2014.

Wiese appeared as a guest timekeeper at a WWE live event in Frankfurt, then made his debut with Seamus and Cesaro in 2016, defeating The Shining Star and Bo Dallas.

Sir Bradley Wiggins won World and Olympic championships on both track and roadAlamy

He is now embarking on a career as a rower

Sir Bradley Wiggins

Because winning the World and Olympic championships on both the track and the road, as well as the Tour de France just isn’t enough for this champ.

But back in June in 2017, ‘Wiggo’ said he was going to take up rowing on a serious basis, using Olympic champ James Cracknell as his coach.

Wiggins has competed in the British Rowing Indoor Championships, finishing 21st after making a slow start because he thought the race had false started, before jacking it in.

West Hams infamous hardman Julian Dicks hung up his boots in 2000News Group Newspapers Ltd

Dicks turned his eye to golf, but grew frustrated because of his lack of abilityNews Group Newspapers Ltd

Julian Dicks

The hardman of football, and West Ham legend, Dicks never did anything in halves.

And when he had to call time (he once owned a pub too) on his career in 2000, he tried golf.

Sadly, he got frustrated about his own ability, breaking a few clubs along the way, and a long-standing knee injury meant he gave up that short-lived dream.

Sonny Bill Williams never shirks a tackle for the All BlacksGetty Images – Getty

Which is why Williams became a heavyweight boxer, winning all seven of his fightsGetty Images – Getty

Sonny Bill Williams

Well, he used to intimidate opponents performing the haka with New Zealand, so no wonder he thought he could do it in the ring.

Sonny switched playing with oval ball and strapped on a pair of boxing gloves to become a heavyweight fighter in 2009.

He was a good one too, unbeaten in his seven fights becoming New Zealand’s heavyweight champion, before deciding to return to rugby union.

Victoria Pendleton won two Olympic gold medals in cyclingAFP

Since 2015, Pendleton has competed in horse racingTimes Newspapers Ltd

Victoria Pendleton

A two-time Olympic gold-winning cyclist, Pendleton got off her bike to sit on a saddle.

Amazingly, she learned how to ride in just 12 months, competing in her first race in 2015.

Then, the following year, she won her first race at Wincanton and placed fifth in a race at the Cheltenham Festival, calling it “probably the greatest achievement of my life.”

Dame Sarah Storey is the most successful British Paralympic athlete of all-timeAFP – Getty

She has won six more gold medals in cycling after quitting swimmingAFP – Getty

Dame Sarah Storey

Sarah’s story is a remarkable one. At the Barcelona Paralympics she won six medals in the pool a the age of just 14.

She continued to swim until 2005, winning five golds, eight silvers and three bronzes.

But a series of ear infections meant she swapped the pool for cycling. She became a Dame in 2013, and is considered Britain’s greatest ever Paralympian.

Rebecca Romero won silver at the 2004 Olympics and was a successful rowerGetty

Romero won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in cyclingPA:Press Association

Rebecca Romero

Cycling seems to be the go-to sport. Romero was a successful rower, winning silver at 2004 Olympics and gold at the World Championships a year later.

However, after a niggling back injury forced her retirement, she had to try something else.

Romero grabbed a bike and in 2008 became the first woman to win a medal in two different Olympic sports. Incidentally, it was a gold one.

Paolo Maldini won it all as a footballerAP:Associated Press

However, Maldini’s tennis career lasted just 43 minutes after a straight sets defeatAFP or licensors

Paolo Maldini

Arguably the greatest defender of all time, the Italian footballer was a legend for AC Milan and his national team and won everything you can imagine.

But, some nine years after he retired, he entered a doubles event at an ATP Challenger tournament in Milan.

Maldini’s tennis career lasted just 43 minutes as he was beaten 6-1 6-1 in the first round. He said: “Those who know sport know very well that it’s impossible to invent yourself as a professional from one day to the next.”

Curtis Woodhouse fights off the attentions of David Beckham during his footballing daysGetty Images – Getty

After Woodhouse retired from football, he took up boxing and has fought 31 timesAction Images – Reuters

Curtis Woodhouse

A former England under-21 international, the former Sheffield United midfielder hung up his boots and entered the boxing arena after “falling out of love with football”.

He made his boxing debut in 2006, in a welterweight contest, beating Dean Marcantonio on points after knocking his opponent down on the canvas twice.

Woodhouse fought 31 times, winning 24 times (13 KOs) and seven losses.