From Anime to Knitting: The Surprising Pastimes of Pro Athletes
To be the best of the best, you have to put in the work day in and day out. We know how tirelessly athletes train to perfect their craft, but what do these individuals do in those pockets of free time, and how does it translate back to their sport? Let's take a look at some who've discovered interesting hobbies to pass the time.
Sammy Sullivan- Legos
For many athletes, the best type of downtime is an activity that eases the mind. Sammy Sullivan, an Olympic Medalist in Rugby, has found comfort in building Legos. Like many of us, she first discovered Legos as a child but fell back in love with it in 2023 when she started feeling the effects of the “sophomore slump” while playing for USA Rugby. It’s more than just a hobby for her though; it’s a mental escape from the stress that social media used to cause her as an athlete. After the Paris Olympics, Sammy even came home to a gift from LEGO, including a 10,000+ piece Eiffel Tower set, and a minifigurine poster of herself! While she’s not the only athlete who enjoys building Legos, her story is definitely a special one.
Noah Lyles- Anime
Noah Lyles, known as the "fastest man in the world," is recognized for his high energy and vibrant personality, but most importantly, he's not afraid to express himself. When he was in middle school, he often read mangas at night, losing track of time. That hobby has carried into his athletic career, where he frequently references anime and manga before, during, and after his races. His interest goes beyond striking the Kamehameha pose from Dragon Ball Z at the end of a race; he even dyed his hair silver to model one of Goku’s transformations from the show. During the 2024 Olympic Trials, Noah placed a Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card under his bib, flashing it to the camera before his races. Who knows, maybe flexing the card is the key to getting that extra jolt of energy!
Marina Mabrey- Cooking
After getting injured during the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a 3 on 3 basketball league, WNBA Star Marina Mabrey began looking for a new pastime in between recovery. That’s when she decided to take on cooking and created a series on TikTok, “Cookin’ With Mabrey,” where she tries out recipes as a beginner. She even has teammates taste-test her creations, and while Marina is one of the spiciest players on the court, her teammates said she needs to use more spice off the court.
Tom Daley- Knitting
For many of us, the period of quarantining during COVID-19 was the birthplace of many newly found activities. Tom Daley, a retired diver, took up knitting in March 2020 and began crocheting a few months later, in August. He went viral for being seen crocheting in the stands at the Tokyo Olympics and then again this past summer in Paris. Similar to Sammy Sullivan, it was an outlet that helped Tom relax and clear his mind, but he could’ve never predicted how many people he would inspire. His handiwork account, @madewithlovebytomdaley, has 1.4 million followers who have also taken a liking to his creations. Tom also donates his pieces to the Brain Tumor Charity to raise money in honor of his father, who passed away in 2011. We love to see an athlete-turned-knitfluencer moment!
Jarrett Allen- STEM
PC: AP/Ron Schwane
It’s pretty common to find athletes who are interested in STEM-related activities, but the extent to which NBA player Jarrett Allen takes that hobby is quite impressive. He builds computers, just casually. Jarrett has always been interested in coding and all things technology, but he built his first computer when he was a sophomore in high school, learning through YouTube videos. When he was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets to the NBA in 2017, his reward to himself was building yet another custom PC. Jarrett has also collaborated with various organizations to teach children the fundamentals of math and computer science. Add that to the list of reasons why he’s a great guy!
Leah Williamson- Piano
English footballer Leah Williamson’s hobby turned into an accomplishment that not many people can achieve. She began playing the piano as a way to pass the time during the 2020 lockdown, but when she suffered an ACL injury in 2023, she decided to see how far she could take the instrument. Her journey was documented in the first episode of “Out of Office” on BBC Sport, where she took piano lessons for six weeks and had the opportunity to perform Shania Twain’s “Still the One” with Charles Mutter and the rest of the BBC Concert Orchestra. That’s the definition of a sidequest, an incredible one at that!