The Challenges of Retiring As An Athlete

In the world of professional sports, there is an adage that says: 'Athletes die twice, first when their athletic career is over, and second when they die'. While many aspire to be a professional athlete - getting paid to do what they love most and perhaps having the honour of representing a team, province or even their country - the reality is that the span of an athletic career is relatively short. Bearing in mind that as an athlete, so much of your success is based on your physical fitness, a job that you've dedicated your whole life to can come to an end overnight as you age and you are replaced by a younger, physically fitter candidate. Therefore, retiring from sports can be incredibly challenging for athletes on many levels, especially if they haven't prepared themselves for this eventuality. Let's take a look at some of the biggest challenges facing retired athletes in a little more detail: 

Loss of Identity

Unlike a regular 9 to 5 office job, being a professional athlete tends to consume a person's whole life. From what they eat and drink to how often they socialise and their ability to travel. Those who pursue an athletic career essentially build their lives around their sport. So, when that career comes to an end, it can feel like their whole life has come to a standstill. If they are no longer competing as professional sportspeople, who exactly are they?

Depression

In addition to the mental health implications, there are definite physical effects of retiring from sports. Throughout their careers, athletes supply themselves with regular doses of serotonin daily, and if they stop participating in sports or decrease physical activities, this reduces the release of this 'happy hormone' which can upset the chemistry of the body. Studies have shown that there is often a causal link between this type of imbalance in serotonin levels and depression. 

Crafting A New Career

Stats show that the average athlete will retire before the age of 30. While most people might spend years dreaming of how they'll enjoy their twilight years, having retirement creep up on you at such a young age can leave you with a lack of purpose. One way to overcome this problem is by attempting to craft a new career for yourself. While athletes may be mistaken in believing that their sporting abilities aren't transferable into other fields of work, you'll find that, in actual fact, mindset skills such as perseverance, laser-focus and ability to take feedback well are assets in almost any job. 

Loss of A Support Structure

Regardless of whether an athlete was working as an individual or as part of a sport's team, they would have likely been supported by a solid group of professionals, including coaches, managers, teammates and supporters. Working so intensely with a team of people who are all in the same boat and striving towards a common goal results in the formation of incredibly close relationships. Most of these team members will continue to play a role in sport well after an athlete has retired, leaving the retired athlete feeling quite isolated. One way for a former athlete to circumvent this issue is to stay involved in the sport, either through coaching, motivational speaking, or voluntary. 

Summary

In short, retiring from sports can feel like stepping off the podium into an abyss. No doubt having a sporting career come to an end can feel incredibly overwhelming for an athlete on various physical, mental and emotional levels. Making the transition into the real world can be tricky and create enormous challenges for former athletes. However, no matter how short, a career in athletics provides a sportsperson with specific skills and abilities that are sought-after in other lines of work. Regardless of whether a former athlete wishes to continue being involved in their sport somehow or decide to pursue an alternative career path, advanced planning and mental preparation are essential to make the retirement process more manageable.

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!