Celebrities you may not know were, or almost were, Olympic athletes

Some of the world's most talented celebrities have had public success in the arts but have been less open about their sporting talents .

There are a surprising number of celebrities who have had wildly successful sporting careers before the world saw them as actors, singers, models and designers.

Some of these celebs even came close to showcasing their athletic abilities at the Olympic Games . Here are some of the most famous celebrities who made it - or almost made it - to the Olympics.

• Incredible heartwarming story of Rhys McClenaghan - Ireland's latest gold medalist
• Paul O'Donovan responds to becoming Ireland's greatest ever Olympian with typical modesty after stunning win

Famous fashion designer Vera Wang has created some of the most beautiful gowns for red carpets and celebrity weddings, however she showed talent of a different kind as a child. Wang once dreamed of becoming an Olympic figure skater. She started aged 8 and made it as far as the US National Championships in 1968, though she didn’t actually qualify for the Olympics.

Before Caitlyn transitioned, she competed as Bruce Jenner and won a gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the men’s decathlon. The 74-year-old has caused some controversy in her later years as she is vocal about her belief that trans-females should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports at the Olympics.

The British actor is one of Hollywood’s leading men, but before he caught the acting bug, Statham was a committed diver who had Olympic dreams. As a teen he was a part of the British diving team and participated in the Olympic trials for the 1988 Games in Seoul and the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Sadly he did not make the cut and focused his attention on acting instead.

Before she stunned on the catwalk, Bella Hadid had a promising career as an equestrian. The supermodel was nationally ranked and had Olympic medals in her sights when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease aged 17. The debilitating bacterial infection sadly put an end to her riding career. Shortly after she began modeling.

The fact that Pink was a dedicated and highly skilled gymnast is no surprise if you have witnessed one of her live performances. The singer incorporates acrobatic routines into her live shows, adding another element of entertainment for the crowd.

"I wanted to be an Olympic gymnast before I was a singer. And once you get to fly, why would you not?" Pink said in an interview once. The singer competed at a high level for more than a decade before she turned her attention toward music.

The Hollywood actress best known for Thelma and Louise was extremely sporty as a child and even carried her hobbies into her adult life. Ten years after winning an academy award, Davis set her sights on an Olympic medal and started training in archery. She participated in the trials for the US Olympic archery team before the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney but sadly did not qualify.

Princess Anne was the first member of the British Royal Family to compete in the Olympics. She took part in the three-day equestrian at the 1976 Montreal games. 41 years later, her daughter Zara also competed and scooped a silver medal for Team GB at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .