Politics seep into many facets of our lives, and sports activities are not any completely different.
All through historical past, many athletes have taken a stand on political points. Look to Muhammad Ali, a stark opponent of the Vietnam Conflict. Pat Tillman, who left the NFL to serve within the military. Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who raised their fists in a show broadly generally known as a Black energy salute through the 1968 Olympics. The checklist goes on and on.
Within the realm of current sports activities, there have been quite a few athletes who’ve been vocal about politics. Whether or not or not it’s quietly endorsing a politician or talking on distinguished political points, many athletes have chosen to get entangled.
Riley Gaines, Herschel Walker and Colin Kaepernick are athletes who’ve entered the world of politics. (Getty Photos)
24 CELEBRITIES AND MEDIA FIGURES WHO RAN FOR POLITICAL OFFICE
- Riley Gaines
- Herschel Walker
- Caitlyn Jenner
- Harrison Butker
- LeBron James
- Colin Kaepernick
1. Riley Gaines
When Riley Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer competed in opposition to Lia Thomas, a organic male who swam for a girls’s group, she took her expertise and have become a spokesperson preventing for “security, privateness and equal alternatives” for girls.
Gaines has testified earlier than the U.S. Senate, U.S. Home and quite a few state legislatures, in line with her web site.
“I can attest to the tears that I witnessed from finishers who missed being named an All-American by one place. I can attest to the acute discomfort within the locker room from 18-year-old women uncovered to male physique elements and having to undress with a male watching in the identical room,” Gaines mentioned on her web site.
Riley Gaines is a former swimmer who has taken a robust stance on girls’s rights. (Terry Wyatt/Getty Photos)
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Gaines can also be the host of the “Gaines for Ladies” podcast on OutKick and has spoken to crowds at quite a lot of occasions.
2. Herschel Walker
Earlier than turning into a political determine, Herschel Walker was an NFL athlete.
He was a operating again who performed faculty soccer on the College of Georgia, the place he received the Heisman Trophy in 1982. In 1999, he was inducted into the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Walker performed 12 years within the NFL.
Walker was additionally an Olympic athlete as a member of the USA’ bobsledding group in 1992.
Extra just lately, Walker has gotten concerned in politics. He was appointed chair of the President’s Council on Sports activities, Health and Diet by former President Trump, in line with Walker’s web site.
Herschel Walker, a former NFL participant, ran for workplace in 2022. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Photos)
In 2022, Walker ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, the state the place he was born and raised.
Walker misplaced the election to Democrat Raphael Warnock.
3. Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner is an Olympic gold medalist who set a world file within the decathlon through the 1976 Summer time Olympic Video games in Montreal.
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Following Olympic glory, Jenner turned a actuality TV star with “Preserving Up with the Kardashians.”
In 2015, throughout an ABC TV interview with Diana Sawyer, Jenner got here out as a trans lady.
Since then, Jenner has been an advocate for the trans group.
Caitlyn Jenner got here out as a trans lady in 2015. (Phillip Faraone/WireImage)
In 2021, she was the Republican candidate in a recall election in opposition to Democrat Gavin Newsom however did not take away him from workplace. Even after her defeat, she has spoken about operating for workplace once more.
4. Harrison Butker
Harrison Butker despatched waves by way of the nation together with his graduation speech at Benedictine Faculty in Could 2024.
Butker held nothing again throughout his faith-based speech, discussing his opinions on a number of points.
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Butker, a kicker for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, frolicked throughout his speech talking on to girls graduates and the way they need to embrace what he considers to be “one of the crucial vital titles of all: homemaker.”
“A few of chances are you’ll go on to steer profitable careers on the planet, however I might enterprise to guess that almost all of you’re most enthusiastic about your marriage and the kids you’ll carry into this world,” Butker mentioned. “I can inform you that my stunning spouse Isabelle can be the primary to say that her life really began when she started residing her vocation as a spouse and as a mom.”
He additionally shared his stance on divisive matters like abortion.
Harrison Butker lined numerous political matters in his graduation speech at Benedictine Faculty. (Robin Alam/ISI Images/Getty Photos)
“Issues like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia in addition to a rising assist for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from the pervasiveness of dysfunction,” Butker mentioned in his speech.
“Our personal nation is led by a person who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic religion however on the identical time is delusional sufficient to make the signal of the cross throughout a pro-abortion rally.
“He has been so vocal in his assist for the homicide of harmless infants that I am certain, to many individuals, it seems you could be each Catholic and pro-choice. He isn’t alone. From the person behind the COVID lockdowns to the folks pushing harmful gender ideologies onto the youth of America, all of them have a obtrusive factor in widespread: They’re Catholic. This is a crucial reminder that being Catholic alone does not reduce it.”
Butker’s speech introduced commentary from the media, athletes, the NFL and others.
Quite a few teammates of Butker’s have supplied their very own ideas on his speech. Travis Kelce acknowledged having completely different views than his teammate however acknowledged him for being “a fantastic individual and a fantastic teammate.”
“I’ve identified him for seven-plus years, most likely, eight-plus years. And I cherish him as a teammate,” Kelce mentioned of Butker.
“I feel Pat [Mahomes] mentioned it finest, the place — he’s each little bit of a fantastic individual and a fantastic teammate. He’s handled family and friends that I’ve launched to him with nothing however respect and kindness, and that’s how he treats everybody.
“When it comes right down to his views and what he mentioned on the St. Benedictine’s graduation speech, these are his. I can’t say I agree with nearly all of it or simply about any of it, exterior of simply him loving his household and his youngsters, and I don’t assume that I ought to decide him by his views, particularly his spiritual views, of how you can go about life. That’s simply not who I’m.”
5. LeBron James
NBA star LeBron James has used his platform to talk on points no matter pushback he is obtained for bringing politics into the sport.
The Los Angeles Lakers star was the organizer of “Extra Than A Vote,” a bunch aimed toward stopping voter suppression.
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James has been a loud critic of Trump for a few years. In November 2016, LeBron attended and spoke at a Cleveland rally for Hillary Clinton. He later endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020.
LeBron James has publicly backed a number of Democratic presidential nominees. (Kevin Winter/Getty Photos)
James has additionally made statements about police brutality and racial injustice.
6. Colin Kaepernick
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick started kneeling through the nationwide anthem through the 2016 season in an act of protest.
In a current interview with NPR, Kaepernick expressed his emotions the NFL nonetheless has “numerous work to do,” when requested if he thought the league had “modified for the higher.”
In the course of the 2016 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick knelt through the singing of the nationwide anthem. (Jaime Crawford/Getty Photos)
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“I have not seen any substantial change,” Kaepernick mentioned. “I feel there may be numerous work to do on that entrance. Clearly, not enjoying and being out of the NFL for six years is an indictment on the place they’re presently at. So, I would not put them on the forefront of goodwill and better of intentions in how they function.”
