This is a list of sportspeople who also worked as politicians and vice versa.
Africa Algeria NameSportPosition Ahmed Ben Bella Association football (one appearance in Coupe de France 1940) President of Algeria (1963–1965)
Central African Republic NameSportPositionJean Bengué Basketball Member of Savigny-sur-Braye Municipal Council (2008–2015)Minister of Information (1988–1990)Minister of Youth and Sports (1980–1985)Théophile Sonny Colé Football Member of National Assembly (2005-?)Presidential candidate in the 2015–16 Central African general electionGaston Gambor Basketball Minister of Youth and Sports (1987-?)Minister of Social Affairs (1983–1984)Fidèle Gouandjika Karate Qwan Ki Do Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture (2009–2013)Minister of Posts and Telecommunications and New Technology (2005–2009)Sonny M'Pokomandji Basketball Minister of Equipment and Transport (2003–2005)Member of National Assembly (2005-?) François Naoueyama Basketball (Olympic athlete) Minister of the Environment and Ecology (2009–2013) François Péhoua Basketball Minister of the Economic Plan, International Cooperation, and Statistics (1971)Deputy Minister of Budget (1970)Candidate in the 1981 Central African presidential election
Egypt NameSportPositionMustafa Mansour Association football (1934 FIFA World Cup, Olympic athlete) Government minister
Gambia NameSportPosition Sheikh Omar Faye Athletics (Olympic athlete)Oumar Fye at Sports Reference Minister of Youth, Sports and Religious Affairs (2006–2007)
Ghana NameSportPositionRobert Kotei Athletics (high jump; Commonwealth medalist) Member of the Supreme Military Council
Guinea NameSportPosition Titi Camara Association football Minister of Sports (2010–2012)M'Mahawa Sylla Handball Governor of Conakry (2021–present)
Ivory Coast NameSportPositionBonaventure Kalou Association football Mayor of Vavoua
Kenya NameSportPositionWesley Korir Athletics (marathon) Member of the National AssemblyElijah Lagat Athletics (marathon, Olympic athlete) Member of the National Assembly for Emgwen (2007–?)John Harun Mwau Shooting (Olympic athlete) Candidate in the 2013 Kenyan general election at MakueniCandidate in the 2013 Makueni by-election
Liberia NameSportPosition Wesley Momo Johnson Athletics (Olympic athlete) Vice-chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia (2003–2006) George Weah Association football President of Liberia (2018–2024)Senator for Montserrado County (2015–2018)
Morocco NameSportPositionSalaheddine Mezouar Basketball (international) Leader of the Opposition (2011–2013)Nawal El Moutawakel Athletics (Olympic medalist)Nawal El Moutawakel at Sports Reference Minister of Sports (2007–?)
Nigeria NameSportPositionSamson Omeruah
Republic of Congo NameSportPositionJacques Yvon Ndolou Association football Minister of Defence (2002–2009)Minister of Sport (2009–2011)Ambassador of the Congo to Germany (2012–2017)Ambassador of the Congo to the Central African Republic (2017–present)
Seychelles NameSportPositionJean-Paul Adam Swimming (Olympic athlete) Minister for Foreign Affairs (2010–2015)
South Africa NameSportPosition Danny Jordaan Association Football and Cricket Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (2015–2016) Member of South African Parliament for Eastern Cape (1994–1997) Louis Luyt RugbyLeader of Federal Alliance and Member of Parliament Ossie Newton-Thompson CricketMember of Parliament Paul Roos Rugby Member of Parliament (1948, died shortly after election)
Uganda NameSportPositionJulius AchonMiddle-distance runnerMember of the Ugandan Parliament (2016-)Idi Amin Boxing (light heavyweight boxing champion) President of Uganda (1971–1979)Aggrey Awori Athletics (Olympic athlete) Member of the Ugandan Parliament (2001–2006)Minister for Information and Communications Technology (2009–2011)
Zimbabwe NameSportPositionKirsty CoventrySwimmingPresident of the International Olympic Committee (2025–present)Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation (2018–2025)
Asia Afghanistan NameSportPosition Robina Muqimyar Taekwondo Member of Parliament (2019–2021)
Bangladesh NameSportPosition Mashrafe Mortaza Cricket Member of Parliament Shakib Al Hasan Cricket Member of Parliament
China NameSportPosition Liu Xiang 110 metres hurdles (Olympic athlete)Hurdler Liu Xiang elected China's national political advisor Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (2008–2018) Xu Mengtao Freestyle skiing (Olympic athlete)Election of delegates highlights intra-Party democracy Delegate to National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (2022) Wu Dajing Short-track speed skating (Olympic athlete) Delegate to National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (2022) Zhang Yufei Swimming (Olympic athlete)Feature: China to upgrade public fitness to achieve sporting powerhouse goalsZhang eyes even bigger splash Deputy to the National People's Congress (2023–) Zhu Ting Volleyball (Olympic athlete)Volleyball star takes passion to political realm Deputy to the National People's Congress (2018–2023)
Hong Kong NameSportPosition Vivian Kong Épée (Olympic athlete) Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (2026–) Ronnie Wong Swimming (Olympic athlete)Ronnie Wong at Sports Reference Member of the Urban Council (1986–1991; 1995–1998)Member of the Southern District Council (2001–?)
Georgia NameSportPosition Kakha Kaladze Association football Mayor of Tbilisi (2017–present) Mikheil Kavelashvili Association football President of Georgia (2024–present) Levan Kobiashvili Association football Member of the Parliament of Georgia (2020–2024) Lasha Talakhadze Weightlifting Member of the Parliament of Georgia (2024–present)
India NameSportPosition Yusuf Pathan Cricket Member of Parliament Kirti Azad Cricket Member of Parliament Mohammad Azharuddin Cricket Member of Parliament Prasun BanerjeeFootballMember of Parliament Chetan Chauhan CricketMember of Parliament Kalikesh Narayan Singh DeoShootingMember of Parliament Gautam GambhirCricket Member of Parliament Harbhajan SinghCricket Member of Parliament Mary KomBoxing Member of Parliament Sachin TendulkarCricket Member of Parliament Aslam Sher Khan Field HockeyMember of ParliamentManoharsinhji Pradyumansinhji Cricket Member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly Jaipal Singh Munda Field Hockey member of the Constituent Assembly Wangnia Pongte FootballMember of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore ShootingMinister of Youth Affairs and Sports Laxmi Ratan Shukla CricketMember of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Navjot Singh Sidhu CricketMember of Parliament Jyotirmoyee Sikdar AthleticsMember of Parliament Karni Singh ShootingMember of Parliament Pargat Singh Field HockeyMember of the Punjab Legislative Assembly Dilip Tirkey Field HockeyMember of Parliament
Indonesia NameSportPosition Ashari Danudirdjo Sailing Minister of Trade (1966–1967)Minister of Textile Industry (1966) Maladi Association football Minister of Information (1959–1962)Minister of Sports (1962–1966) Moreno Soeprapto Motorsport Member of the House of Representatives (2014–present) Utut Adianto Chess Member of the House of Representatives (2009–present)Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (2018–2019) Taufik Hidayat Badminton Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports (2024–present) Yampit Nawipa Association football Regent of Paniai (2025-present)
Iran NameSportPositionAmir Abedini Football Member, City Council of Tehran (2000–03)Javad Arianmanesh Football Member of Parliament Alireza Dabir Wrestling Member, City Council of Tehran (2007–2017)Mohammad Dadkan Football Former President, Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (2002–2006) Ali Fathollahzadeh Football Ran for City Council of Tehran in 2003, but lost; Ran for Parliament in 2008, but lost; Chairman, Esteghlal F.C.Mahmoud Goudarzi Wrestling Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports (2013–2016) Abbas Jadidi Wrestling Member, City Council of Tehran (2013–2017)Amir Reza Khadem Wrestling Member of Parliament (2004–08); Vice Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports (2013–present)Rasoul Khadem Wrestling Member, City Council of Tehran (2003–13)Arash Miresmaeili Judo President, Iranian Judo Federation (2019–present)Hossein Rezazadeh Weightlifting Member, City Council of Tehran (2013–17)Hadi Saei Taekwondo Member, City Council of Tehran (2007–17)Hamid Sajjadi Athletics Minister of Sport and Youth (2021–present)Nasrollah Sajjadi Association football Vice Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports (2013–17); Former President, Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (1984–85)
Iraq NameSportPositionAhmed Radhi Association football Member of the Council of Representatives (2007–?)
Israel NameSportPositionYoel Razvozov Judo Member of Knesset, Minister of TourismMoshe Matalon Athletics Member of KnessetTzipora Obziler Tennis Councilor, GivatayimOrna Ostfeld Basketball Councilor, Ramat HasharonRifaat Turk Soccer Deputy mayor of Tel Aviv-JaffaAleksandr Averbukh Athletics Councilor, NetanyaBella Zur Swimming Councilor, Ra'ananaMichael Kolganov Kayak Councilor, TiberiasYaron Levi Judo Member of Knesset
Japan NameSportPositionTarō Asō Skeet Shooting Prime Minister (2008–09); Deputy Prime Minister (2012–2021)Hiroshi Hase Professional Wrestling House of Representatives (Japan) Governor, Ishikawa Prefecture (2022–present)Seiko Hashimoto Speed Skating Cycling House of Councillors Hayateumi Hidehito Sumo Wrestling Aomori Prefectural AssemblyManabu Horii Speed Skating House of Representatives (Japan) (2012–present)Tsuneo Horiuchi Baseball House of Councillors Antonio Inoki Professional Wrestling House of Councillors Kunishige Kamamoto Football House of Councillors Shinobu Kandori Professional Wrestling House of Councillors Kyokudōzan Kazuyasu Sumo Wrestling House of Representatives (Japan) Kenshiro Matsunami Wrestling Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nippon Sport Science University House of Representatives (Japan) Kenji Ogiwara Nordic Skiing Mayor, Nagano Katsuo Okazaki Athletics House of Representatives (Japan) Atsushi Onita Professional Wrestling House of Councillors Kiyoko Ono Gymnastics House of CouncillorsThe Great Sasuke Professional Wrestling Former Legislator, Iwate Prefectural Assembly Masami Tanabu Ice Hockey Aomori Prefectural Assembly House of Councillors House of Representatives (Japan) Ryoko Tani Judo House of Councillors Sakon Yamamoto Auto Racing House of Representatives (Japan)
Kazakhstan NameSportPosition Serik Konakbayev Boxing (Olympic athlete)Serik Konakbayev at Sports Reference Member of the Parliament of Kazakhstan (1999–?)
Malaysia NameSportPositionDavid E. L. Choong Badminton Penang State Legislative Assemblyman for Air Itam (1974–1978)Candidate in the 1964 Malaysian general election at TanjongCandidate in the 1990 Malaysian general election at Bukit BenderaSoh Chin Aun Association football (Olympic athlete) Candidate in the 1986 Malaysian general election at Kota Melaka
Mongolia NameSportPositionKhaltmaagiin Battulga Sambo (martial art) President of Mongolia (2017–2021)Badmaanyambuugiin Bat-Erdene Wrestling Member of the State Great Khural (2004–?)Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar Wrestling Member of the State Great Khural (2013–2020)Agvaansamdangiin Sükhbat Wrestling Member of the State Great Khural (2016–?)Kyokushūzan Noboru Sumo Member of the State Great Khural (2008–2012)
Pakistan NameSportPosition Asif Bajwa Field hockey National Assembly (Pakistan) Syed Iftikhar Bokhari Cricket Senate of Pakistan (1988–1991) Anwar Aziz Chaudhry Swimming National Assembly (Pakistan) Imran Khan Cricket Prime Minister (2018–2022) Zafarullah Khan Jamali Field hockey Prime Minister (2002–04) Abdul Hafeez Kardar Cricket Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Sarfraz Nawaz Cricket Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Aamer Sohail Cricket Pakistan Muslim League (N) Member Qasim Zia Field hockey Provincial Assembly of the Punjab (2002–07)
Philippines