In the last few weeks there has been a flurry of athlete retirement news. From Super Bowl champion Nick Foles to women’s soccer pioneer Alex Morgan, it is clear that retiring from sports is a big transition. Many athletes spend their entire lives preparing for one moment — retirement. It is important that these athletes have a plan for their life after sport, and are financially stable when they hang up their cleats.
Athletes often struggle to find their identity outside of their sport. Especially professional and elite athletes who have their whole lives devoted to the sport. It can be a difficult transition from training around the clock to surviving on minimum wage with little support. This can also cause a lack of motivation and even depression for athletes. This is particularly true for Olympic and professional athletes that focus their entire lifestyle on the sport, which is why it is important to stay in touch with your sport peers after retiring.
For example, middle-distance runner Laura Weightman retired from competition after two Olympic Games, but decided to continue coaching and educating the next generation of athletes. Another example is former NBA star John Wall, who recently announced his retirement. He was the best point guard in the league last year, averaging 24.4 points per game, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists for the Washington Wizards. In his retirement announcement video, Wall spoke about how basketball will always be a part of him but that it is time to move on to new opportunities.