Hollywood legend Jason Statham looks unrecognisable as throwback pics emerge of star’s Team GB Olympics bid
JASON STATHAM looked unrecognisable as a Team GB Olympic hopeful before his acting career.
The Hollywood legend swapped the diving board for the film set after two attempts to qualify for the games.
Footage has now emerged of Statham in action, sporting a completely different look to what fans are used to.
Then aged 22, he represented England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand.
Statham competed in the 1m springboard, 3m springboard and 10m platform events.
However, his best finish saw him place eighth in the 1m springboard alongside a pair of 11th place finishes in the other two events.
He did show off his agility and flexibility with a series of acrobatic dives, though, as well as a full head of hair and slim build.
Statham is nowadays known for his bald appearance and greying beard, a stark contrast from his diving days.
As well as his Commonwealth Games appearance, Statham also took part in trials for both the 1988 and 1992 Olympics but failed to qualify.
He previously revealed how he got into the sport, explaining: “I was on holiday in Florida with my mum and dad.
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“And there was a guy who used to do a high dive at noon every day from one of the hotels we stayed in. And I say ‘When we get home, I am going to do that.’
“I joined the club then, I was like 11 or 12 years old. Within a year, I was part of the British team and it gained momentum and I spent the next 10 years doing that.”
Statham remains keen on adrenaline sports, enjoying wakeboarding, jet skiing, wind surfing and rock climbing when he is not on set.
Meanwhile, Team GB picked up their first medal of the Paris Olympics on the diving board.
Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen claimed bronze in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard on Saturday morning.