As many athletes approach the end of their careers, they’re forced to find new ways to define themselves outside of sport. For most, that includes finding a way to financially prepare for the transition. But the process can be difficult. The average athlete retires much earlier than the majority of Americans, and it can be a big adjustment from training around the clock to surviving on minimum wage with little support. In the past, some Olympic athletes have reported relying on food stamps and credit card debt in their early post-athletic years.
The last few weeks have been a flurry of athlete retirement news, from Super Bowl hero Nick Foles to two-time Olympic gold medalist and women’s sports pioneer Alex Morgan. While most athletes do not hang up their cleats until it’s deemed the “right time,” some, like middle-distance runner Laura Weightman and rower Helen Glover, have made an unscheduled U-turn on their retirement plans.
Athletes spend their entire lives preparing for one moment, and it can be hard to know when it’s time to retire. But for some, retirement isn’t as permanent as it might seem: They keep playing because they love the game and they’re still good at it.
And that’s a great thing for them and for the sport. Here are four athletes who were ready to throw in the towel but ended up “un-retiring” and coming back better than ever.