The last few weeks have seen a flood of athlete retirement news. From New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu to Buffalo Bills linebacker Lorenzo Carter, athletes across the world have decided to hang up their cleats and pads for good.
Despite the glitz and glamour of sports stardom, for many athletes, retiring is a hard transition. Athletes often spend their entire lives preparing for a single moment, and when that time comes they must make a massive adjustment from training around the clock to living on a minimum wage with little support. This can be especially difficult for athletes who rely on family, friends or other athletic partners to help them fund their training.
For many Olympic athletes, it can also be expensive to chase gold. Thousands of dollars in elite coaching and equipment can add up quickly, while forgoing regular employment to train around the clock can put a strain on families. It’s not uncommon for athletes to report relying on food stamps and credit card debt in the wake of their retirement.
Unlike regular people, who tend to retire in their 60s or 70s, most athletes retire much earlier. For some, this can be a welcome change of pace; however, it’s also difficult to go from being an international superstar to surviving on minimum wages with limited social support. In the wake of retiring, these athletes must find their self-identity outside of sport and build a new foundation for themselves.