Unearthed images from 1990 show a beloved Hollywood actor once had a very different career as a international competitive diver. Years before Fast & Furious and The Transporter, none other than Jason Statham was actually a top level diver.

Did Jason Statham used to be an Olympic diver?

He got inducted into the British National Diving School in 1985 and gradually went on to represent Great Britain and England in international competitions. Statham participated in the Olympic trials for the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul and the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 but could not make the cut for the main event.

What did Jason Statham do before Hollywood?

He was a Diver on the British National Diving Team and finished twelfth in the World Championships in 1992. He has also been a fashion model, black market salesman and finally of course, actor.

Is Jason Statham athletic?

Statham's diverse athletic background in martial arts, diving, and other sports has equipped him to be a top action star. The actor's willingness to perform his own stunts stems from his childhood dream of becoming a stuntperson.

Was Jason Statham a trampolinist?

In 1990 he represented the British National Team at the Commonwealth Games on a trampoline jump.

Jason Statham competed in diving at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland

Did Jason Statham serve in the army?

There is no evidence to suggest that Jason Statham has ever been in the military or the armed forces. He was born in Derbyshire, England in 1967 and was sporty and athletic from a young age, and was even a competitive diver before pursuing a career in modeling and acting.

Who trained Jason Statham?

Jason's acting career took off in 1998 with his debut role in "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels". He began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2002 after becoming friends with film director Guy Ritchie, and they joined Renzo Gracie's Academy in Manhattan, New York.

Does Jason Statham really know martial arts?

He has studied Wing Chun, karate, and kickboxing. The film spawned two sequels, Transporter 2 (2005) and Transporter 3 (2008).

Is Jason Statham a black belt?

Other notable actors who are highly ranked in the ancient martial art include Jason Statham and Russell Brand who both hold purple belts after years of training.

Is Jason Statham a real tough guy?

While fans love Jason Statham's on-screen tough guy persona, the actor has reportedly intimidated many with his personality. However, he is not as he might seem on the silver screen, and that's what his partner and the English model, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, shared during an interview with Elle.

Why is Jason Statham worth so much?

Jason Statham's net worth in 2024 is estimated to be $90 million, a testament to his illustrious career in the entertainment industry. His commanding presence in action films, coupled with his savvy investment decisions and endorsement contracts, has solidified his position as one of the wealthiest actors in the world.

How did Jason Statham get discovered?

Statham's career in the media began when he was recognized by the sports modeling agency, Sports Promotions, while practicing at London's Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. During the 1996 spring/summer collections, he was also signed by Tommy Hilfiger, Griffin, and Levi's for various modeling contracts.

Does Jason Statham do a lot of his own stunts?

One of the greatest action movie stars of all time, Jason Statham is also among the few actors who performs dangerous stunts on his own. Stunts may not come as anything out of the ordinary for the English actor. He is, after all, a trained diver.

Was Jason Statham a gymnast?

Jason competed in the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland in 'DIVING' ?!.... Now I happen to know that Jason was also a good level gymnast and that this gave him his foundation for diving, which in turn set him up as a CONFIDENT Hollywood Actor!

How many times has Jason Statham been married?

If you're looking for his wife, Jason Statham hasn't married (though he is engaged).

Is Steven Seagal a black belt?

A 7th-dan black belt in aikido, he began his adult life as a martial arts instructor in Japan and would run his father-in-law's dojo for a time. He later moved to Los Angeles where he continued teaching aikido.

What belt is Keanu?

Yes, Keanu Reeves does have black belts in real life! In fact, he has earned multiple black belts in different martial arts. He has a black belt in karate, as well as a black belt in judo. He is also proficient in jiu-jitsu and kickboxing.

Does Sylvester Stallone know martial arts?

Although Sylvester Stallone has no formal martial arts training that we know of, we must presume that filming 6 Rocky films would have included a lot of boxing training, and that shows in the movies where he does a great job as Rocky Balboa.

Did Liam Neeson take martial arts?

Does Liam Neeson know martial arts in real life? Yes. Neeson boxed for several years, from childhood and through his teens. If you don't believe boxing is a martial art, pick a fight with a boxer.

Does Dwayne Johnson do martial arts?

Recent photos of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in mixed martial arts training had some people assuming that the WWE superstar and movie actor was about to try his hand at UFC, and they were half right, because Johnson may not be gearing up for active MMA competition, but he is getting his grapple on to play a two-time UFC ...

What kind of fighter is Jason Statham?

Statham's pursuit of other athletic avenues saw him seek training in martial arts fighting styles such as Wing Chun kung fu, karate, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Jason Statham holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Which actors have black belts?