Top 10 Wrestlers who were in the Olympics

#7 Ken Patera

Ken Patera going for an elbow drop

Ken Patera was an integral member of the infamous Heenan Family, and feuded with the top stars in the 80’s, such as Hulk Hogan and Andre ‘The Giant’. Patera also challenged for the WWE Championship back in the 70’s, when he faced Bruno Sammartino, and later, Bob Backlund. Patera won the WWE Intercontinental Championship in 1980, and was one of the most hated heels in the wrestling industry.

Before he turned to professional wrestling, Ken was an accomplished shot - putter, and when he failed to make the cut for the 1968 Olympic Games, he took up weightlifting. Patera turned quite a few heads with his strength, and won the gold in the Pan Ams in 1971, secured a silver in the World Weightlifting Championships in the same year, and represented the United States in the 1972 Summer Olympics.

While many expected Patera to be placed in the top 3, it was a disappointing outing for Ken, who finished in the 18th position at the Olympic Games in Munich. He soon retired from weightlifting, and became a professional wrestler.