It was reported earlier today that Usain Bolt has been offered a professional football contract by Australian side Central Coast Mariners.

Earlier this week, Bolt was offered a two-year deal by Maltese champions Valletta FC but turned it down.

If the rumours are true, Bolt would be following the footsteps of several other athletes who have tried their hand at a different sport after having a successful career in their first sport.

Michael Jordan

The most famous athlete to switch sports is quite possibly Michael Jordan. Jordan is regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time and is currently the owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets. His estimated net worth is over $1 billion.

After announcing his first retirement from basketball, Jordan signed a baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox. In his short spell in baseball, Jordan hit three home runs and his highest batting average was .252.

Rebecca Romero

When Romero competed as a cyclist in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she became the first British woman ever to compete in two different sports at the Olympic Games.

In winning a gold medal in the individual pursuit, she also became only the second woman ever to win a medal in two different sports at the summer games.

Romero started her sporting career as a rower and won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the quadruple sculls.

Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff

Flintoff was a leading English cricketer, before he made his professional boxing debut in 2012.

He may have only had one fight, but Flintoff was successful in his transition and won his first ever boxing bout on points.

Flintoff switched back to cricket after his fight and now focuses on his TV career, presenting A League of Their Own alongside James Corden and Jamie Redknapp.

Conor McGregor

McGregor started as an MMA fighter, became a global brand, and tried his hand at boxing the greatest boxer of all time. McGregor is UFC royalty and is the only fighter to be champion of two divisions simultaneously.

Last year, McGregor took on Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas. Mayweather won the bout convincingly, but McGregor may venture into boxing once again to fight Paulie Malignaggi, who shared several words with McGregor in the build-up to the fight.

Bolt won’t be the last athlete to switch sports, but he could be one of the most successful given his natural speed and desire to win.