From Olympian to Entrepreneur: Athletes Who Own Businesses.

Working as a professional athlete requires consistent hard work, around-the-clock dedication, and extremely high stakes. Entrepreneurs, does this sound familiar?

Similar to sports, being an entrepreneur requires another level of dedication, self-motivation and innovative thinking, which is why many athletes become entrepreneurs.

With the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon, we wanted to see which known Olympians also wear the ‘business owner’ hat. 

Jessica Ennis Hill

Ennis Hill is best known for achieving a gold medal in the grueling heptathlon in the 2012 Olympics. Since the Olympics, Ennis Hill co-founded ‘Jennis’, a fitness app that provides workout plans and coaching, with a focus on training for women at different life stages, including pregnancy.

Ennis Hill created Jennis to ‘challenge’ the idea of a one-size-fits-all approach to fitness. Jennis allows women to reach their personal best whilst paying attention to the changes women and their bodies go through. Ennis Hill combined her knowledge from training and a life in sports to bring a truly innovative business made to challenge our norms. 

Chris Hoy 

The six-time Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist has ventured into several business areas. He founded Hoy Bikes, a brand of bicycles and cycling accessories, and has authored children's books featuring a young cyclist.

Hoy similarly used his expertise from his sport and applied it to the world of business. Hoy’s bikes are known for their reliability and quality. Hoy’s Bikes is a collaboration between Evan’s Cycles and Hoy, blending together the experience of cycle manufacturing and bike riding. 

Tom Daley

Daley’s foray into entrepreneurship was also inspired by his sport, but not in the way you’d imagine. Daley, an Olympic diver, was often found knitting poolside in between dives. In fact, his knitting habits caught the attention of the press worldwide, with Daley remarking that knitting was a way for the acclaimed diver to manage his stress and relax.

Since then, Daley launched a line of knitting kits called Made With Love by Tom Daley, reflecting his passion for knitting. Daley often features in Made With Love’s marketing showing how close he is to the business and the knitting community around Made With Love.

Kelly Holmes 

Kelly Holmes became a double gold medalist in middle-distance running at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Since the Olympics, Holmes founded the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. The trust supports young athletes and helps them transition into life after sports. Something which Holmes experienced herself.

The trust links young people with world-class athletes, providing mentorship activities and helping them find a life in sports. Since 2008 the trust has helped thousands of young people who have faced adversity and bring diversity into professional sports. 

Adam Peaty

Adam Peaty, the renowned swimming champion and Olympic gold medalist also recognises the links between sports and business. Many solo athletes choose to set up a limited company for themselves, as they often work for themselves rather than for a team or club. This allows them to manage their income from their sports but also from sponsorships, appearances and more. Peaty is no exception to this and runs an LTD under his name. Peaty also owns The AP Race Club, a consultancy for swimmers, coaches and businesses which provides apparel, training and events related to swimming.

Feeling Inspired? Start Your Business Today. 

Entrepreneurship may cross over with sports, but anyone can be a successful business owner. If you are feeling inspired, why not start your business today? All it takes is the first step. We can help you from the very beginning, from searching for your company name to setting you up with an accountant and business bank account.