Musical Athletes

Guess what, budding virtuosos?

Some elite athletes are also accomplished musicians! Musical training boosts coordination and motor skills, so perhaps this is the secret weapon to their success! Let’s take a look at a few famous sports stars who love jamming on the piano.

Nathan Aké

First up is Nathan Aké—a world famous professional soccer player from the Netherlands. Did you know that soccer is actually called “football” in most of the world, because the ball is mainly maneuvered with the feet? Nathan doesn’t play only football though; during the COVID-19 lockdown, he started learning piano, something he had always wanted to do.

Listen to Nathan play part of River Flows in You by Yurima:

Michele Tiff-Hill

Michele Tiff-Hill is the first-ever Black woman to qualify for the Olympic marathon trials. Michele started playing the piano at the age of five and went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in piano performance, a master’s degree in harpsichord, and a doctorate in musicology. She actually started running as a way to incorporate physical exercise away from the piano. Michele only started her running career at the age of 29, which just goes to show that it’s never too late to master something new!

Malaika Mihambo

Malaika Mihambo is the reigning Olympic long-jump champion and a two-time world champ! Born in Germany, Malaika only discovered her love of classical music as an adult and started to learn the piano at the age of 22. She feels that similar qualities are needed to excel at sports and music, including discipline, diligence, and passion. She says that playing the piano helps her relax.

Charlotte Merrill

Charlotte Merrill is a Special Olympics athlete who has cerebral palsy, a condition that affects body movements and posture. She was also born with ataxia which can impact coordination, muscle control, and speech. Charlotte credits piano lessons with helping to make her fingers more flexible and hand movements stronger. Doctors originally thought she would never be able to walk or talk! She has defied all odds as a member of the bocce ball, swimming, and basketball Special Olympic teams.

Read more about Charlotte:

Want to learn about more musical athletes? Check out the Summer 2024 Issue: Music and the Summer Games.