Why Pro Athletes Make Great Poker Players

Nerves of steel, a knack for strategy, making snap decisions under pressure—common skills needed to succeed in poker. It’s no coincidence these top skills needed to succeed as a pro athlete—and it’s no surprise that you often see pro athletes trying their hand at the felt of the poker table.

What does that crossover look like, though? How, exactly, do those skills translate from one discipline to the next? Let’s take a closer look at these skills and what you can do to develop them yourself. Plus, we’ll share some insights into how pro athletes have started to make a splash in the poker world.

4 Things Pro Athletes and Poker Players Have in Common

At the end of the day, sports and poker are both mental games. That’s not to discount the physical discipline of sport, nor the techniques needed to succeed at the poker table—but when you get down to it, it’s all about your mindset.

A Knack for Strategy

When you hit the rugby pitch, you’re not going in without a game plan. You’ve got a strategy you’ve worked out with your coach and teammates. To beat the competition, you’ve got to take all manner of variables into account: timing, opponent weaknesses, the tactics the competition is using on you. It all plays a role in how you develop your own strategy.

Naturally, all these considerations are an obvious transplant to the poker world. Poker play is all about strategic thinking, and you’re always considering your position at the table, the behaviour (and tells) of your opponents, and how you’re managing your bets. Sure, no one’s trying to tackle you, but the focus on strategy is familiar ground.

Discipline & Training

No matter their sport, pro athletes spend a lot of time in rigorous training to improve their performance. They’ll spend hours, day in, day out, to make sure that every movement and response feels instinctive. That level of discipline lets them play and make snap decisions in the moment.

That level of discipline is right at home at the poker table. But instead of running drills or plays, poker players spend hours studying hand rankings, mentally calculating odds, and playing as much as they can to improve their game. Much like pro athletes, poker players rely on these skills they’ve built to win big.

A Risk-Taking Mindset

Taking the three-pointer before the buzzer sounds. Aiming for the green when taking a shot over water. Braking late on a corner of the racetrack to improve your position. Professional sports are full of risks. That’s why athletes need to not only be comfortable but adept at making bold, dicey decisions. 

Poker demands the same skillset, particularly when it comes to making bold raises, all-in bets, and, of course, bluffs. Bluffing in sports and poker is a massive risk. Whether faking a pass or betting with a weak hand, every time you bluff, you risk getting caught. Your opponent could notice the fake-out, block your real play, and gain possession of the ball. Or, fellow competitors might know you’ve got nothing in your hand and call your bet, only to claim the pot for themselves.

Mental & Emotional Resilience

In the sports world, a single bad call or mistake — be it a missed pass, fall, or crash — can lead to emotional turmoil. When feelings like frustration, anger, or fear take control, this can lead to even more costly errors and losses. To avoid these outcomes, pro athletes are specially trained to manage their emotions and remain composed.

This kind of emotional regulation is a must when playing poker. In the poker world, making poor decisions due to intense feelings is known as “tilt” — and it’s something competitors need to be wary of. Because pro athletes already know how to control their adrenaline and stay calm under pressure, they’re among the most equipped to combat tilt. 

3 Pro Athletes Who Brought Their Game to Poker

So, who are these renowned athletes applying their sports skills in poker? Here are three of the biggest names:

Cristiano Ronaldo

While he may be one of the greatest soccer players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo also has a passion for poker. Much like the world of professional sports, poker is constantly evolving — and that innovation is a major drawcard for pro athletes like Ronaldo.

In 2015, Ronaldo commented, “Although football is my world, poker has always been my game.” In the years that followed, Ronaldo made several high-profile poker appearances, including going head-to-head with other celebrities like Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul.

Rafael Nadal

A longtime poker player, tennis star Rafael Nadal is living proof of how sports strategy applies to poker. Not only does he play the game, but there are times when he dominates.

In 2013, he even managed to beat one of the world’s top poker pros, Daniel Negreanu, during a charity game in Prague. According to Nadal himself, much of his poker success can be attributed to the skills he’s developed throughout his athletic career. 

“[Like tennis, poker is] a competition. You need to control your emotions, you need to be focused all the time,” he said.

Michael Phelps

Last but certainly not least: in addition to being a 23-time Olympic gold medallist, Michael Phelps is also a solid poker player. In a 2023 interview, Phelps drew several comparisons between competitive swimming and poker, and how his skills in the former helped prepare him for the latter. 

Specifically, when asked about developing the mental toughness required to compete at the poker table, Phelps chalked it up to two things: control and preparation.

“What I think about mental toughness, I think about control. If you can control your emotions and you can control your preparation, then in the highest stressful situation, it’s not going to matter because you’re prepared for every single moment that you’re ever faced with,” he said.

“In my whole swimming career, my coach helped me be prepared for any single moment,” added Phelps. “If my goggles ripped, if my cap ripped, if my swimsuit ripped, I was able to control my emotions at that highest pressured situation when all the lights were shining right on me.”