The last few weeks have seen a flurry of athlete retirement news, from Super Bowl hero Nick Foles hanging up his jersey to women’s soccer legend Alex Morgan’s final match for the San Diego Wave. For athletes, especially elite and professional ones, retirement can be a challenging transition. They spend their lives preparing for that one day, and then must shift from training around the clock to surviving on minimum wages with limited social support. They must find ways to stay fit and build a sense of self-identity outside their sport.
Despite these challenges, retiring from sports can be beneficial for athletes as they transition into their careers beyond competitive sport. However, a new study shows that some top-level athletes struggle to adjust after they retire from competitive sport. These struggles can lead to depression, eating disorders and substance abuse.
For this reason, it is important that athletes have adequate support during and after retirement. Athletes should try to keep in contact with their sport peers after retirement, as this can help them maintain their connection and community. They should also make an effort to keep connections with parents, partners and coaches as they transition into retirement.
Athletes should also remember that retirement is a process and not an endpoint. They don’t have to quit their sport cold turkey, and methods such as competing less often, or even training with a reduced intensity, can help them gradually adapt to the retired lifestyle.