For athletes with a strong athletic identity who dedicated their lives to sport… what happens when it ends?

Retirement from a high-performance sport has many implications on mental and physical health. Athletes transitioning into retirement after a life of sport do have a range of side effects including cognitive impairment, anxiety, depressions and alcohol misuse. Some protective factors include the preparation for retirement and health exams for athletes to ease into a new life.

Some of the reasons why athletes find it challenging to adapt to their new life after sport is because they view athletic termination as a crisis. They experience sudden grief, withdrawals, emptiness. It takes a while to adjust to a new way of life. The lack of athletic stimulation and psychological demands catches up to them as now, nothing brings that thrill like before. They suffer a loss of identity, to go from being the greatest at their sport to a regular person now. Tunnel vision kicks in.

They also experience the physical adaptations from a change in weight and fitness. Some lose their social support and social network from transitioning. Some of the mental health issues that accompany athletes include body dysmorphia, anxiety, depression, substance abuse.

These issues can be solved through support for retired athletes. Making use of athletic organizations, sports counselling, talking to coaching staff, leaning on family, friends, mentors, peers.

Having a higher athletic identity causes more difficulties when transitioning into a life after sport. As such, they need to learn how to apply the skills they acquired as athletes to form new paths in life outside of competitive sport, as well as develop interests and plans external to sport.

Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard struggled with retirement which ultimately led to his depression, but he lived by the mantra that nothing could satisfy him outside the ring.

Adapting to this new life is not easy for athletes, and there will be struggles and difficulties in the process. However, it becomes easier overtime when they adopt healthy methods when adjusting:

– Accepting the transition
– Building a support system
– Developing a new sense of self outside of sport
– Maintaining an active lifestyle
– Networking & keeping connections
– Practicing good habits.

Written by: Celine Ramkissoon
Medium: medium.com/@celineramkissoon
Instagram: celify