Cricketers who represented their country in other sports at the Olympics

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Learn about cricketers who did not just play cricket but also took part in other sports at the Olympics. Find out their interesting stories and how they passionately embraced different sports with dedication. We will see cricketers who represent their country in other sports at the Olympics.

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1. Brian Booth

Brian Booth was an athlete who played for Australia in field hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Even though he is mostly known for cricket, he took a break in 1956 to concentrate on training for hockey and made it to the Australian team. Despite not winning a medal in hockey that year, his effort in playing two sports is a remarkable part of his sports journey. It is interesting to note that he was not the only cricketer to take part in different Olympic sports.

2. Claude Buckenham 

Claude Buckenham was a talented athlete who won a gold medal in football at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris with the Upton Park FC team representing Great Britain. Even though he was a skilled cricketer for Essex and England, cricket wasn’t in the Olympics during his time. So, he only participated in football at the Olympics and remains one of the few to win a gold medal in both cricket and another sport, even though the latter wasn’t an official Olympic event.

3. Johnny Douglas

Johnny Douglas is well-known for his cricket career and also showed his talent in boxing at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. He won a gold medal in middleweight boxing, demonstrating a different skill set than his defensive cricket style. Later, he became a successful cricket captain for Essex and England, earning the “Wisden Cricketer of the Year” title in 1915. Despite his cricket fame, he left a lasting mark as a multi-talented athlete who excelled in both boxing and cricket, proudly representing England in both sports.

4. Jack MacBryan

Jack MacBryan is a versatile athlete who captained the Great Britain hockey team at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. He was the sole member with prior international hockey experience, leading the team to a bronze medal by defeating France 5-1 in the playoff. Besides his hockey skills, MacBryan played cricket for Somerset and earned selection for England in 1924, though he didn’t play in Tests. Additionally, he showcased talent in golf and rugby, highlighting his all-around athleticism and contribution to various sports.

5. Keith Thomson

Keith Thomson participated in field hockey for New Zealand at the Olympics but was not engaged in any other Olympic sports. Despite being a skilled cricketer with two Test matches for New Zealand, cricket was not part of his Olympic journey. His contribution came in field hockey during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, where he played eight games scored three goals, and contributed to New Zealand’s seventh-place finish. Thomson continued to represent New Zealand in 28 hockey Test matches throughout his career.

6. Sunette Viljoen

Sunette Viljoen known for excelling in javelin throwing at the Olympics (London 2012, Rio 2016), also played cricket for South Africa at the 2000 Women’s Cricket World Cup. While she hasn’t represented South Africa in other Olympic sports yet, she has expressed interest in returning to cricket for the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup, offering the possibility of a future Olympic sports venture.

7. Suzie Bates

Suzie Bates is an athlete who represented New Zealand in two different sports at the Olympics. She showed her basketball skills in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and recently, made history in the 2022 Tokyo Olympics as part of the New Zealand women’s cricket team. Despite not securing a medal in cricket she remains a figure, being New Zealand’s highest women’s ODI run-scorer. Intriguingly, she has not ruled out a third Olympic appearance and expressed interest in representing New Zealand in cricket at the 2028 Games.

Conclusion

In the end, these cricketers were amazing because they did not just play cricket but they also did different sports in the Olympics. They did things like field hockey, football, boxing, and javelin throwing. Their stories show they were good at many sports, making a big impact in both cricket and the Olympics.

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