RETIREMENT FROM ELITE COMPETITION: LIFE AFTER SPORT

WHEN TO HANG UP YOUR BOOTS

A multitude of factors influence the span of a contemporary elite sporting career. Many of them are beyond your personal control. While the physical and psychological demands of each sporting discipline will vary, the decision to retire from active participation is personal, with its genesis in a variety of factors.  For some, overwhelmed by the constant pressure of elite sport, it becomes a matter of relief from physical and emotional exhaustion. Some may sense the intangible loss of competitive desire, while others are attracted to a less demanding lifestyle. And for an unfortunate few, illness or injury may prematurely terminate a sporting career.

Whatever the reason, every athlete must ultimately decide to call their competitive life to an end and finally “hang up their boots”—a decision that some will have given very little prior thought.

Aspiring athletes, in their early career, commonly depend upon the resources, experience, and guidance of significant “others,” most of who will be adults. These will include parents, coaches or teachers or a combination of the above. Skill (technique) acquisition, strict regimes of practise, and countless hours of training unavoidably impinge upon opportunities for social, personal, and academic development.

FROM CELEBRITY TO THE ANONYMITY OF SOCIETY

Emerging young swimmers, for example, spend more time under the influence of their coach “in loco parentis” while water-immersed daily for many hours of training. And the time commitment is no less for cyclists, rowers, triathletes, or other dedicated young athletes. That said, those who reach elite status soon learn that kudos, financial rewards, media endorsement, and extraordinary travel opportunities will follow. The camaraderie engendered enables them to mix with sporting “rock stars” and participate internationally in unforgettable festivals of sport. Ultimately, they may become household names at times of victory and national celebration. Celebrity status is appealing and holds a natural seduction. It convinces most athletes that all the hours of pain, sweat, and tears have been worthwhile.

However, the transition from elite athlete status to the anonymity of general society is a giant leap for many. Professional athletes under current management models generally have no responsibility for travel, accommodation, or budgeting matters. Medical support is readily at hand, and daily schedules are predetermined by competition and training. At the highest levels, the athlete entourage includes physicians, physiotherapists, nutritionists, masseurs, sport scientists, and mental skills coaches.

This athlete-centric model enhances a focus on training and peaking for competition with minimal external influence or disruption. However, some would argue that this approach fails to kindle the required essential life skills in the wider community. These include essential attributes such as independence and self-reliance.

DON’T LOOK FOR A “ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL” SOLUTION

But planning for life after sport has no template or “one-size-fits-all” solution. The career of any two retiring athletes will never end in exactly the same circumstances. Under professional management, some reap a considerable financial reward. Others, less privileged, will have worked hard simply to make ends meet. The obscene salaries of European soccer stars, American basketball players, or top echelon tennis players or golfers are not representative of the majority of athletes.

A pleasing trend, endorsed by major International Federations, has been the establishment of athlete commissions. These comprise former elite athletes who have successfully negotiated the transition into retirement. Their mandate is to provide mentorship to younger competitors through sharing their personal experiences of adapting to life after sport. Swimming, athletics, cycling, and rowing have been leaders in establishing such athlete-focused initiatives, mirrored by the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

IDENTIFY YOUR CONTINUING WORTH DURING RETIREMENT

As mentioned earlier, there is no single solution to this dilemma. No placebo guarantees a smooth transition into life after sport. My belief is that every athlete at the end of their career should carefully prepare themselves. Address your ongoing mental health (adaptability and socialisation). Identify your continuing worth (career planning). And ensure financial stability (income). Finding a surrogate for the glitz of sporting stardom does not come easy for some. It’s always heartbreaking to hear that drug and alcohol abuse, failed relationships, and mental health issues have tainted the transition of a talented athlete into retirement. It behoves every athlete who has been fortunate to have performed at elite level to provide leadership to those following. The saddest comment we could ever hear about a retired athlete is:  “She/he was successful in sport but a failure in life.”

My brief commentary was not aimed at providing you with a solution to this complex issue of life beyond sport. I simply wanted to spark awareness that a career in sport is only part of life’s journey. Those responsible for mentoring our elite athletes have to exert astute stewardship. Most of all, however, retirement deserves meticulous personal planning on your behalf.