Sometimes an athlete just can't let the spotlight slip on by once the siren has blown on their sporting career; they do whatever they can to stay in the public arena. Other times a political party sees an athlete as an easy way to win votes.

The journey from sports to politics is often seen as a win-win situation for both retiring athletes looking for a new career and political parties looking to win votes any way they can. And, the world over, there have been plenty of athletes who have ventured into politics once their playing days came to an end.

Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe went from the running track to the House of Lords in London. Bill Bradley was a star on the hardwood of Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks before becoming a star on the floor of the U.S Senate. Buffalo Bills quarterback Jack Kemp went from calling plays on the gridiron to calling the shots in the Congress. Jesse "The Body" Ventura went from feather boas and flying elbows to electoral reform and school funding as Governor of Minnesota. Imran Khan went from being the most popular Pakistani cricket captain to a popular politician while Sri Lankan dasher Sanath Jayasuriya was recently elected to Sri Lankan parliament. The man considered the greatest chess player of all-time, Garry Kasparov, ran for the Russian presidency in 2007.

Sports and politics mix across the world and Australia has been no different. So, with the Federal Election campaign in full swing, and BPL still working out whether to watch Abbott v Gillard or Magpies v Crows on August 21, we present 10 of Australia's finest athlete-politicians:

10. Sam Loxton (Australian Rules/Cricket)

A legendary all-rounder renowned for his big hitting and aggressive bowling, Loxton was a member of Bradman's famous Invincibles who toured England in 1948 without loss. Prior to playing Test cricket, Loxton was a full forward for St. Kilda where he kicked 114 goals in 41 matches. Loxton served as the Liberal Member for Prahran from 1955-79 in the Victorian Parliament after unexpectedly winning the seat and holding off the challenge of Richmond Tigers legend Jack Dyer in 1967.

9. Dawn Fraser (Swimming)

Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser, the winner of 8 Olympic medals and the breaker of 39 world records, became the Independent Member for Balmain in 1988 and stayed in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for one term before the seat was abolished in 1991. Fraser unsuccessfully ran as an Independent for the New South Wales Upper House in 2007.

8. Justin Madden (Australian Rules)

A Carlton legend who kicked 170 goals in 287 games for the Blues, winning premierships with the club in 1987 and 1995 and finishing second in the 1985 Brownlow Medal, Madden swept into the Victorian Parliament in 1999 when Labor shocked the Jeff Kennett led Liberals. Madden was immediately named Minister for Sport and has been a member of Cabinet ever since though he has been embroiled in a number of controversies as Planning Minister in recent years.

7. Paul Osborne (Rugby League)

Osborne was a dour and gritty prop forward of the old school in a career with the St. George Dragons and Canberra Raiders but he parlayed his legendary performance in the 1994 Raiders Grand Final win into a seat in the ACT Legislative Assembly, where he was a controversial figure during his two terms as an Independent from 1995-2001. Osborne held the balance of power throughout much of his time in parliament, bringing down the Carnell Government in 2000 along with introducing an anti-abortion bill and moving against a legalised injection room. Osborne was voted out in 2001 and is now the Chief Executive of the Parramatta Eels.

6. Kirstie Marshall (Aerial Skiing)

Marshall was one of Australia's most well known winter-sport athletes in the '90s as she competed as an aerial skier at three Winter Olympic Games with a sixth at Lillehammer her best effort. Marshall entered Victorian Parliament in 2002 as the ALP Member for Forest Hill and is best known for being ejected from the chamber in 2003 when breastfeeding her newborn child.

5. Hubert Opperman (Cycling)

Regarded as Australia's greatest ever cyclist, who has been compared favourably with Don Bradman and Phar Lap in terms of popularity, Opperman was the Liberal Member for Corio in the Australian Parliament from 1949-66 after upsetting a senior ALP Minister. Opperman was a Cabinet Minister between from 1960-66 where he successfully advocated for greater relaxations to immigration restrictions.

4. Darrel Baldock (Australian Rules)

The Doc belongs to a truly elite club being the only man to captain St. Kilda to a flag, leading the Saints to the premiership in 1966. In 119 games for St. Kilda, Baldock kicked 236 goals and won three Best and Fairest awards in his seven years at the club. Baldock was an inaugural member of the AFL Hall of Fame and in 2006 he was upgraded to Legend status. Baldock served in the Tasmanian Parliament for fifteen years from 1972, eventually resigning to coach St. Kilda in 1987.

3. Ric Charlesworth (Hockey)

Before serving as the ALP Member for Perth during the Hawke years of 1983-93, Charlesworth was selected as an Australian hockey representative at three Olympic Games. During his parliamentary career, he was selected twice more, making him one of the few athletes to compete at the highest level whilst involved in politics. Charlesworth also played first class cricket for Western Australia during one of the state's most successful periods and has subsequently coached and advised in three sports across the world since quitting parliament.

2. Ron Clarke (Athletics)

The Mayor of the Gold Coast happened to be the man who lit the Olympic Flame at the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956 and was regarded as one of the top middle distance runners in an era that saw a number of champions rise to prominence.

1. Mal Meninga (Rugby League, pictured above)

Meninga is a rugby league legend in Australia, a multiple-premiership winning player with Canberra and a State of Origin and Test legend. He has since added to his aura by guiding Queensland to a record five (and counting) straight Origin victories as coach. His astonishing rugby league achievements have been interspersed, however, with the shortest political career in Australian politics. Meninga's political career lasted just 28 seconds after he became flustered during the first question of his first radio interview - and promptly withdrew his candidacy for the ACT Legislative Assembly.