15 big-name celebrities who were once star athletes

Before he was a blockbuster actor, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was a star athlete at the University of Miami. He later transitioned to professional wrestling, winning a WWE Championship. 

Who could forget that Arnold Schwarzenegger, also known as "The Terminator," was once a professional bodybuilder?

While people may recognize him from "America's Got Talent" and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," Terry Crews was an NFL linebacker, playing for teams such as the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washington Commanders. 

Jason Statham was once a competitive diver for Great Britain's national diving team. He also holds a black belt in karate and was later inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame. 

Like The Rock, John Cena transitioned from the WWE to the big screen, earning roles in Amazon's "Ricky Stanicky" and later in the live-action film "Coyote vs. Acme." 

Mr. Bradley Cooper was a star college athlete, rowing for Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Yes, Joel McHale was a college athlete before making the leap to comedy. While attending the University of Washington, McHale earned a walk-on spot on the school's football team. 

I mean, this one just makes sense. Channing Tatum (with his bulging muscles!) played football for two years at a West Virginia university in the early 2000s. 

In addition to being part of Delta Kappa Epsilon at Yale University, this former POTUS was also a member of the school's rugby team.  

Before she was sipping hot tea and donning heavy crowns, Kate Middleton played field hockey during her high school and college years. 

Can you guess what sport Robin Roberts played before becoming one of the faces of "Good Morning America"? If you said basketball, you'd be right! She played for Southeastern Louisiana University in college and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. 

Before giving advice to struggling families on national TV, Dr. Phil played middle linebacker at the University of Tulsa. 

You may remember Keanu Reeves playing a hockey player in "Youngblood," but he got into character quickly, given that he dominated the sport at De La Salle College in Toronto, Ontario. 

Before becoming one of Hollywood's leading men, the actor played basketball at Fordham University. 

Emma Watson wasn't playing Quidditch before walking red carpets—it was field hockey! She joined the club team while earning her degree at Brown University.