How Athletes Pivoted Their Careers After Retirement

There isn’t anything that quite compares to being a professional athlete when it comes to career paths. The gruelling physical demands of the job mean that after dedicating a relatively short period of time to the pursuit of their passion, almost all professional athletes retire before they’ve reached middle age. This effectively leaves them with decades to find something productive and rewarding to do with their time as well as the money and fame they’ve accrued. 

With that said, however, in many cases, this is easier said than done. Having dedicated the whole of one’s life to pursuing a sporting career, many former athletes are left at a loss when it comes to their ‘second act’. That’s not to say that it isn’t possible for a former sportsperson to utilize their experience and skills to make a successful career transition after retirement and prove there is life after sport.

Here are just a few examples of ways  sportspeople in business who have pivoted their careers after retirement: 

Philanthropy

Many former athletes have leveraged their prominent public profile to launch charitable ventures. One such example is that of David Beckham. After retiring from professional football in 2013, Beckham put his energy into the Victoria and David Beckham Charitable Trust which works to provide wheelchairs to children in need. Beckham’s passion for helping younger generations led to his appointment as a UN ambassador too. 

Political Activism 

Another way that retired athletes can capitalize on their fame is to promote causes that are dear to them. For instance, the former LA Laker Magic Johnson became a vocal political activist after revealing that he was HIV positive in 1991. Through his foundation, Johnson has worked tirelessly to support community organizations working to tackle the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. 

Sports Journalism and Commentating

Another popular ‘second act’ amongst retired sports  people is using their knowledge of their game and unique insights to become a sports journalist or media commentator. A great example to cite here would be that of Mary Carillo, who retired from professional tennis in 1980 and then went on to become a tennis analyst for Sports Illustrated. She has also co-authored several award-winning documentaries. 

Show Business

Although, this may be hard for some people to fathom when watching their favourite sports stars - none of us is one dimensional. As such, retirement from sport doesn’t necessarily stop a person from pursuing other passions they may have. Having already made a name for themselves, sports stars often find they have an edge when it comes to entering show business. Possibly one of the most dramatic career pivots could be said to be when Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson left wrestling to make Hollywood history by becoming one of the USA’s highest-paid actors. 

Coaching

While the adage might say that coaches don’t play, there is nothing to say that former sportspeople don’t make great coaches. Their unique insight into the sport and first-hand experience gives them a special edge when it comes to training the next generation. A notable example here would be that of former Manchester United player, Roy Keane, who went on to become the assistant manager of the Irish national team in 2013 as well as doing stints coaching the Sunderland and Ipswich Town teams.

What to do next?

If you’re a sportsperson and have any questions about life after sport or wish to apply to business those skills achieved in sport, send me an email to coh@hrworks.ie to book a free call!