As the recent murder case involving Sushil Kumar comes to light, here is a look at Olympians who have had unfortunate run-ins with the law.
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To represent one’s country at the Olympics can be, in itself, considered as one of the great achievements in the life of an athlete. To win a medal at The Games would make one an instant national hero. The person will be rightfully revered by their fellow countrymen and many up and comers in the particular sport will look up for inspiration to their Olympic hero. However, in certain circumstances, that great athlete’s reputation might be tarnished beyond repair and they might end up being on the receiving end of nothing but contempt. Usually, such scenarios become reality when the athlete breaks the law. Although unusual, it has happened a few times in the past, and most recently in India.
Here are five Olympians who have ended up on the wrong side of the judiciary.
Sushil Kumar: The stalwart of wrestling in India, Kumar bagged medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics, and was revered as a national hero. However, he was recently arrested over the murder of a 23-year-old wrestler and former junior national champion Sagar Rana. Kumar had been on the run for over three weeks before being arrested on May 23.
Oscar Pistorius: Pistorius had been a stand-up guy for disabled athletes when he became the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied runners at the London Olympics in 2012. However, he was charged with the murder of his then-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The South African said that he had shot her by mistake and is currently under house arrest.
Michael Phelps: Perhaps the greatest Olympian in the history of the United States of America, Phelps is the most decorated Olympian with a whopping 28 Olympic medals. However, he had once been arrested on the charges of driving under influence. It did not tarnish his image that much but will remain a dark spot in the otherwise star-studded career of the American.
Tim Montgomery: Montgomery was one of the most revered US track-and-field athletes. He won Silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and Gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. However, he was hit with a barrage of charges. In 2005, he was stripped of both his record and the Olympic medals over a doping scandal. He was arrested on bank fraud charges in April 2006 and pleaded guilty in 2007 after which he received a four year sentence. Montgomery was found guilty of dealing heroin in 2008 and was handed a five-year prison sentence.
Lance Armstrong: The once-celebrated cyclist won the Bronze at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and also had dominated Tour de France from 1999 to 2005. However, he was found guilty in a doping scandal of monumental proportions. Armstrong admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs for most of his career and he suffered a humungous fall from grace.
