With the 2014 Olympics in Sochi getting underway, we took a look at some Olympians of the past who made the jump into politics. From basketball stars to a figure skating champion, Olympics history is littered with athletes who’ve represented their country in the Games and in the political arena.
Track and field sprinter Ralph Metcalfe competed in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, winning a silver medal in the 100-meter dash and a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash. He went on to win two more medals in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
After serving in the military, Metcalfe started his political career as an alderman in Chicago in 1949. He would eventually win a seat in Congress in 1971 — representing Illinois in the House until he died in 1978.
See who else made the list in this video.
