The past few weeks have been a flurry of athlete retirement news, with Super Bowl hero Nick Foles hanging up his jersey and women’s sports pioneer Alex Morgan retiring from the sport. Whether it’s retiring from professional sports or simply stopping competitive activity, transitioning out of competition can be very difficult and requires careful thought and planning.
This article looks at four athletes who thought they were ready to throw in the towel, only to “un-retire” and come back better than ever. It also considers what athletes and their coaches can do to help their athletes find the right balance when it comes to finding life after sport.
SAN DIEGO (September 5, 2024) — San Diego Wave FC and USWNT icon Alex Morgan is set to retire from her professional soccer career this weekend when she plays her final game with the team at Qualcomm Stadium. Morgan, who holds a number of records with the U.S. women’s national team including most goals scored in a career, will be joined by teammates on Sunday as they pay tribute to one of the greatest players in the history of women’s soccer.
Athletes may feel a number of psychological and emotional strains when they retire from their sports and this can be felt not just by the athletes themselves but by family members, partners and coaches too. Parents, partners and coaches can lose the routine of supporting their athlete at competitions and can struggle to find a new purpose for themselves. This is why it’s important that they keep up connections with their athlete and support them during this transitional time.