It seems like athlete comebacks are the hot trend right now with the latest return of sports entertainment stars like the wrestler the “Rock” to former Australian Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe making his announcement to return at the next Olympics.
Then there’s the recently failed sports broadcaster Tiki Barber wanting to make a return to the NFL after a four-year hiatus.
However, not all comebacks play out the way the athlete wants.
Sometimes they are able to regain the form they once had or sometimes they find themselves in an unfamiliar position.  
With that said I thought this would be a good chance to take a look at some of the more remarkable athlete comeback attempts made in all of sports.

Because every sport demands different talents and skill, it’s hard to gauge what is truly the most significant comeback ever.
I thought I would try though, so here is my list of 10 of the most impressive comebacks made in sports history.
George Foreman: Before Foreman became known as the man helping to “knock the fat” out of food, he was better known for making arguably the greatest comeback in boxing history. At the tender age of 45, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight ever to win the title. He did so when he knocked out Michael Moore in the 10th round of a match in 1994. The victory gave Foreman the record for the longest period of time between title reigns.  
Michael Jordan: In 1993, after winning seven straight scoring titles and three championships, Air Jordan decided to walk away from the game of basketball. He decided to pursue a professional baseball career by signing a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. After failing to make the big leagues over a couple of seasons Jordan realized where his skills were and came out of retirement to rejoin the Chicago Bulls in 1995. In his first return from retirement, Jordan led the Bulls to three more consecutive NBA championships (1996-1998), while also winning three more scoring titles. Jordan also made a second return from retirement in 2001 to play for the Washington Wizards. But let’s ignore that since it didn’t prove to be as successful as his first comeback.
Michael Vick: This former first overall pick in the 2001 National Football League draft spent six years with the Atlanta Falcons. He lit up opposing defences with his speed and a rocket-propelled throwing arm which had him considered by many football experts to be one of the most gifted athletes ever to play the quarterback position. However, the 2007 off-season had Vick switching uniforms from an NFL jersey to an orange jumpsuit when he was sentenced to 23 months in jail for his participation in an illegal dog fighting operation. After serving 20 months, Vick found his way back to the NFL when he was signed in 2009 by the Philadelphia Eagles to back up starting quarterback Donovan McNabb. After trading McNabb and an injury to the team’s quarterback Kevin Kolb, Vick got his shot to play regularly and turned in arguably his best season as a professional. He threw for 3,018 yards, completing 21 touchdowns while rushing for an additional nine to make him a potential MVP candidate in the league.

Tommy John: The revolutionary surgical operation know as “Tommy John surgery” came to being in 1974 when the Los Angeles Dodger pitcher permanently damaged his ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm. John posted a 13-3 record when the injury occurred, which prompted Dr. Frank Jobe to perform the first ever surgery that replaced the ligament in his elbow with a tendon from his right forearm. With many skeptics questioning if John would ever pitch again, he spent the entire 1975 season recovering from the injury. He was able to make his triumphant return in 1976 to the tune of a 10-10 record. But what is most “miraculous” about this is that John would continue to pitch until 1989, winning 164 games.
Greg LeMond: The first American cyclist to ever win the Tour de France back in 1986 was forced to leave cycling a year later after he was accidentally shot by his brother-in-law. The results of the wound left 40 buckshot pellets in LeMond’s back and internal organs, including his heart and lungs, which kept him out of the sport for the next two years. In 1989 LeMond made his return to the world of cycling by winning the Tour de France on the final day of the event and then followed that up by winning it all again in 1990.  
Kim Clijsters: In 2007 Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters decided to leave the game to start a family. Two years later she would return to the game of tennis winning the 2009 U.S. Open after being offered a wildcard opportunity to take part in the tournament. Since then she won another U.S. Open in 2010 and in January of this year she won her fourth major, defeating Li Na to win the 2011 Australian Open. Clijsters continues to be one of the top women’s tennis players today.
Josh Hamilton: The first overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays was considered to be a blue chip prospect before injuries and a drug addiction derailed his career in 2001. However, Hamilton would control his demons and make his way back to the majors a half decade later by being selected through the Rule 5 Draft in 2007 by the Cincinnati Reds. After having a successful rookie season with the team, Hamilton was traded to the Texas Rangers for Edinson Volquez and Daniel Ray Herrera. As a Ranger, Hamilton would get his first of three consecutive American League all-star nominations. In 2009 he would break the record for most home runs hit in the opening round of the home run derby with 28 and then in 2010 he followed that up by winning his first batting title and AL MVP award.
Ben Hogan: After suffering life-threatening injuries as a result of a vehicle collision, Hogan would make his way back to the links in 1950 by winning the U.S. Open. He would go on to win six more majors in the next three years. After he retired in 1971, Hogan was asked what advice he’d give to young golfers: “Watch out for buses,” he answered.
Niki Lauda: You have to respect what this Austrian Formula 1 driver was able to accomplish after overcoming a horrific crash in the German Grand Prix in Nurburgring in 1976. The defending Formula 1 champion was leading the World Championships with five race victories before his Ferrari burst into flames in the crash. It left him with severe burns, extensive scarring and toxic flames damaged his lungs. Remarkably, six weeks later Lauda made his return to the sport. In 1977 Lauda would regain his championship form with a victory in the World Championships. Seven years later he would claim his third World Championship victory in 1984.
Dara Torres: Any person over the age of 40 who can return to her sport to become a force once again deserves their share of praise. At the age of 41, the American swimmer made her return to the pool after eight years away to claim a silver medal in the 50m freestyle at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. This feat is extremely impressive given the generally young age of Olympic athletes.
Because there are so many notable comebacks throughout sports history, it is impossible to get into just one article. I’ll continue to showcase great sports comebacks in next week’s column.