From Olympic swimmers to NBA All-Stars, professional athletes have to maintain intense focus and discipline in their training regimes. However, you might not know that many of them also have pretty strange hobbies outside of their sport! Read on to find out more.

Hobbies Are Important

We all know that professional athletes are some of the most dedicated and hard-working people on the planet. With such rigorous training in their day, it isn’t easy to imagine that they have time outside of their work. However, many professional athletes have some pretty bizarre hobbies. 

It just goes to show that if you have a dream, you can follow it, if not as a professional, then as an avid enthusiast and lover of that hobby. Of course, professional athletes have the time and resources to make those hobbies possible, but as you’ll find out later in this list, some hobbies are as free as imagination itself.

Continue reading to find out which professional athletes have interesting, unexpected hobbies.

Tiger Woods: Spearfishing

Tiger Woods is one of the most accomplished golfers of all time. With several tournaments and championship titles under his belt, it’s safe to say he’s one of the best in the league.  

But did you know that he also enjoys spearfishing?

Woods has said that he enjoys the challenge of spearfishing, as it requires both mental and physical prowess. Experts have concluded that spearfishing has helped Woods sharpen his precision on the golf course. 

That’s not all Woods is good at. He also knows how to free dive, which many consider a difficult sport since divers have to be very careful about how deep they go. That hasn’t stopped Woods, though. He even says getting in the water helps him to breathe and remain calm during his time on the green. 

David Beckham: Fencing

While Tiger Woods is hauling lobsters out of the ocean for dinner, David Beckham can be found dressed all in white with a sabre in hand. That’s right. Becks is a keen fencer.

Tom Cruise introduced both Beckham and Will Smith to fencing. Since Cruise has a room in his home dedicated to the sport, the three often meet for duels.

Although the sport may seem like something straight from the Renaissance period, fencing is actually similar to games we know today, particularly chess. The two sports have a vital strategy component, making them great exercises for the mind.

Michael Phelps: Poker

It’s not surprising that Michael Phelps, one of the most successful athletes in history, has a few hobbies up his sleeve. But one of his more unexpected pastimes is poker.

Phelps has said that he enjoys playing poker because it’s a game of strategy, and he likes the challenge of trying to outsmart his opponents. He’s even competed in some high-stakes tournaments, though he’s yet to win any major prizes.

Unlike other celebrity poker players, experts have lauded Phelps as one of the more subtle, down-to-earth type players. Of course, he’s familiar with all the industry lingo, which is essential to know in order to become familiar with the game. 

It is clear that Phelps takes his poker playing seriously, and it’s just one more example of how he’s always looking for new ways to test himself mentally.

Tim Duncan: Dungeons and Dragons

Although Duncan is retired now, he’s considered one of the most powerful forwards in basketball history. With a nickname like “the Big Fundamental,” there’s no doubt that he’s the real deal. However, his athletic talent comes with some quirks. Besides trying to get everyone on the team to call him “Merlin,” he also loves Dungeons and Dragons. 

It’s no secret that Duncan’s always been on the nerdy side. From the Merlin tattoo to his sword collection, he fits right in at the Renaissance fair (which he frequents, by the way.) He’s made his way to several biggest nerds in sports lists, which typically list athletes with PhDs and other academic achievements. 

Of course, some things are nerdier than others. Playing Dungeons and Dragons is definitely at the top of that list, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for Duncan. 

Mike Tyson: Pigeons

Mike Tyson, former heavyweight boxing champion, spends his time raising pigeons. He’s been very vocal about the love he has for his birds and the role they’ve played throughout his life. 

Besides caring for the pigeons, he trains them and teaches them to race. Although pigeon racing sounds like a bizarre concept, Tyson claims it’s pretty popular in his hometown of Brooklyn. 

He even had a reality show, Taking on Tyson, which was an in-depth look at pigeon racing.