Ronnie O’Sullivan targets shock switch into surprising new sport after retiring from snooker
FITNESS fanatic Ronnie O’Sullivan says he would love to run the London Marathon and coach athletics!
And, according to his latest autobiography, the psychiatrist who turned the Rocket’s career around may ultimately decide when the seven-time world snooker champ’s time in the game is up.
In his new book, entitled Unbreakable, O’Sullivan reveals how his life was “saved by rehab and running” as he overcame his addiction to drink and drugs.
When he is fully fit, O’Sullivan often runs up to 35 miles a week with his pals Greg and Sonny.
Inspired by elite endurance runner Eamonn Martin — the last British man to win the London Marathon in 1993 — the 47-year-old is considering a potential career in track-and-field.
O’Sullivan said: “I’ve thought about taking my athletics coaching badges. The best nights of my life were down at the track in Woodford Green.
“The times I took my daughter running and gave her a little advice.
“The times I’ve shared snooker knowledge with young players — those were the most rewarding.
“I would love to run the London Marathon one day.
“I’m not going to be doing what Eamonn did but I would love to have a go at it.
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“For now, I need to keep the injuries at bay.”
O’Sullivan, who surrendered his world crown last month to Luca Brecel, added: “Before I found running I’d be down at the venue, hanging around the hotel, eating too much.
“That all disappeared the day I bought my first pair of running shoes.
“I started running. I developed a close set of friends through that world.
“I went to rehab. I got on with my work and tried not to react to every situation I wasn’t happy with.
“If I hadn’t have done all of that? I’d have been screwed. I’d have been like Alex Higgins.
“I’d probably have died from a drugs overdose and it would all have been self-inflicted.”
I’ve thought about taking my athletics coaching badges. The best nights of my life were down at the track in Woodford Green.
Ronnie O'Sullivan
O’Sullivan, who claimed his record-equalling seventh world title in 2022, has repeatedly threated down the years to quit snooker but keeps being drawn back to the baize.
The world No 1 reckons he may “play snooker for another two years” but “maybe I’ll push it out to three or four”.
The decision is likely to be made in conjunction with mind-guru Steve Peters, who he has been working with since 2011.
The Rocket said: “I’ll talk to my mentor Steve and it’ll all come tumbling out: ‘Steve, I’m too old, I’m too frazzled’.
“Stephen Hendry was done years before me. Steve Davis was playing for fun rather than trophies by the time he was 30. Steve, I’m scared the wheels have come off.
“And he’ll go: Ron, you’ve been saying this for the last ten years.
“No one else in history has won so many Triple Crown titles. World No 1, again and again. More ranking titles than anyone else. The fastest ever 147.
“Ron, I’ll tell you when the wheels are coming off. If you’re not making finals, the wheels have come off. Until then, just go out and enjoy it.”
Unbreakable – Ronnie O’Sullivan, published by Seven Dials, £22, out now.