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The three most influential athletes of our time are definitely Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. They need no introduction because of their fruitful careers. These three athletes retired from the top of their game, only to return to the sport. Tasting victory early in their careers, Phelps, Jordan, and Schwarzenegger, took it off from where they started, and the passion is always unbelievable. 

 

The uniqueness of their achievements has helped them earn their name as legends. Even though they returned to their sport, they had similar results but different comeback stories. Their thirst for success made them return to their beloved sport. Hence, all of them hold a special place in the hearts of their fans. 

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Michael Phelps craves gold!

After the 2012 London Olympics, Phelps retired from swimming, stating he had no motivation to go ahead. However, he talked to his coach, Bob Bowman, and aimed to return for his final Olympics performance. Training hard to recover from the lost years, Michael was back to being his best. “For me. I love to swim. I want to swim,” mentioned Phelps to his coach, aiming to cement his place as the greatest. 

READ MORE- “I Don’t Want That Fear”- Michael Phelps Once Revealed Why He Avoided Confrontation With His Dad

On his return, he won five gold medals and one silver, capping off an illustrious career in the pool. For years, he dreamt of bowing out in style, and after the 2016 Rio Olympics, he never stepped foot into the pool. As the story switches to another Michael, there are little tweaks. 

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For a person who won three NBA titles in a row, it appeared strange for the shooting guard from Chicago Bulls to end his soccer career. It is a decision similar to Max Verstappen ending his Formula One career today. Fans were stunned. Players were confused. MJ bid goodbye, but later in 1995, he exclaimed, “I’m back.”

Legends of their game!

Those words echoed through the basketball fraternity, sending shivers down everybody’s spine. After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, fulfilling his father’s dream to see him play baseball, Jordan returned to NBA to claim three more NBA titles. Already the finest player in basketball, Jordan showed the world what basketball was missing. To sum up, the enigmatic persona of MJ assisted the league reach far broader horizons. Now speaking of a global brand, there is another remarkable athlete. 

In the world of bodybuilding, one name screams out to the farthest. Winning six Mr. Olympia titles, Arnold Schwarzenegger became the undisputed champion in the world. Naturally, success came in thick and fast and he left for Hollywood. But, in 1980, he shocked fans by announcing his return to the sport just a day before the competition. His antics left many people annoyed, and there were reports of bodybuilders retiring from the competition. 

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Although the 1980 Mr. Olympia title had its fair share of controversies, reports emerged that his charisma was second to none. He won the competition, hands down.

These three players are undoubtedly legends of their sport. The respect they earned and the work ethic they followed are some of the major reasons that fans adore them. To sum up, even with their spectacular career before retirement, they returned hungrily. Hungry for more. And the rest, as they say, is history. 

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