Olympians Turned Politicians

July 27, 2012 -- intro: After the Olympics, many athletes find themselves asking - what next? Well, some athletes realize that, once all of the games, contests and competitions are over, being an Olympian really has a lot in common with being a politician. Some go from representing their country on the pitch to serving their country on the Hill - while in one rare case, the transformation is in the opposite direction.

quicklist:1title: Carl Lewistext:Carl Lewis, track and field athlete who is a 10-time Olympic medalist, and four-time participant in the Olympic games, put his running shoes aside to jump into the political game. In 2011, Lewis, age 50, ran for a seat in the New Jersey state senate, but his campaign was cut short when a federal appeals panel removed him from the ballot because he didn't meet a four-year residency requirement.

Lewis did not appeal the decision issued by a panel of the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The residency requirement issue had dogged Lewis, who wanted to run as the Democratic contender in heavily Republican 8th legislative district of New Jersey.

The appeals court ruled that the state requires residency for four years to run for the senate, but Lewis, who grew up in New Jersey but ultimately settled in California where he voted in 2008 and 2009. Lewis switched his voter registration to New Jersey just before declaring his candidacy, making him ineligible to meet the state's four-year residency requirement.

Lewis today waded into the row over Mitt Romney's comments about London's preparedness for the Olympics.

According to the Independent, in London, Lewis criticized Romney for suggesting London may not be ready for the Olympics. "Every Olympics is ready, I don't care whatever he [Romney] said." The former athlete continued, "I swear, sometimes I think some Americans shouldn't leave the country. Are you kidding me, stay home if you don't know what to say."

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quicklist: 1title: The Romneys and Rafalcatext:Mitt and Ann Romney will shift from political family to Olympic competitors with the dawn of this summer's London Olympics when Ann's dressage horse Rafalca takes to the ring. While dressage and horses are primarily Ann's passions, Mitt has dipped his toes into the competition as well - apparently he picks the music. Both Romneys are expected to attend the 2012 Opening Ceremonies in London. The GOP presidential candidate has more association with the Olympic Games than just through his wife's horse, however - he served as president and CEO of the planning committee for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics.

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quicklist: 2title: Tom McMillentext: Tom McMillen was pegged as a rising basketball star early on - he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated while still in high school. He went on to play both at the University of Maryland and in the NBA. McMillen played on the 1972 Olympic basketball team, which left Munich after suffering a controversial defeat at the hands of the Soviets. McMillen, a Democrat, went on to serve Maryland in the House for three consecutive terms starting in 1987. He lost his reelection bid in 1992 and retired from politics.

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