As athletes retire at an increasingly younger age, the shift from professional athlete to regular citizen can be a difficult one. Many athletes struggle to adapt to life after sports and some suffer from negative psychological states. A recent scoping review found that this can have a long-term impact on an athlete’s wellbeing.
This week, a star of the United States women’s national soccer team announced her retirement. Alex Morgan has scored 123 goals in her storied international career and will finish her club career with the San Diego Wave Futbol Club. In a video she posted on Thursday, Morgan described that her decision to retire had been “long in coming.”
In a separate video, she shared a heartwarming moment from a recent conversation with her 4-year-old daughter. Morgan recounted that the girl told her she hoped to be a soccer player when she grows up. The video was a fitting send-off for the woman who overcame a traumatic knee injury to become one of the most dominant players in NWSL history.
Despite the challenges, it’s not uncommon for athletes to find success after retiring from competitive sport. But how they approach this transition varies, Prof Filo said. He says that athletes who are “determined and have the right mindset can go a long way.” With advances in healthcare, some athletes are also able to compete longer into their retirements. However, he adds, that the quality of their training and the overall support they receive can influence how they adjust to this new stage in their careers.
