We’ve seen a flurry of athlete retirement news in recent weeks, from Super Bowl champion Nick Foles retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles to women’s sports pioneer Alex Morgan stepping down from professional soccer. While many athletes are happy to retire and focus on their family, it’s not always easy for them to make the switch from competing to a different lifestyle.
Retiring can be especially challenging for Olympic athletes, who may struggle to find their identity outside of their sport. The financial transition can also be tough — it’s not uncommon for Olympians to report living on food stamps or credit card debt in their early post-athletic careers.
Athletes like olympic silver medalist Tom Daley, middle-distance runner Laura Weightman and 2024 Olympic 1500m runner-up Jonathan Edwards have chosen to pursue new paths after retiring from competition. These athletes have found that while they can’t run, swim or compete anymore, they still have a valuable skill set to offer as coaches and other coaching professionals.
Athletes who have made the switch to retirement should consult their National Governing Body and IF to determine if there are any additional requirements or conditions for returning to their sport after retirement. For instance, some NGBs require a certain amount of time in retirement before an athlete can return to the sport, and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has a policy on the matter as well. The full article can be read here.