Is there (work)life after professional sport?
- Delia du Toit
We cheer them on to the finish line, but what happens to pro athletes after their last race?
There’s a reason entire nations rally behind sports teams, why elite athletes clinch endorsement deals worth millions, and why Olympians train four years for a race that’s over in mere seconds. Few things showcase the awe-inspiring capabilities of the human body and the power of mental endurance as well as professional sports.
But the reality is that any peak is followed by an inevitable downhill trudge. For many elite athletes, the glory lasts just a few years before retirement becomes inevitable. Some find success in other fields. Former soccer player David Beckham founded multi-million-dollar fashion and fragrance lines, Terry Crews became a star on shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine after leaving pro football behind, and the name George Foreman is today more synonymous with a grill than with boxing.
But many struggle with the transition. What does it take to leave the sporting arena and start a successful second career?
Tough transitions
Adjunct Professor Demitri Constantinou, MD, is a specialist in Sport and Exercise Medicine and Founding Director of the Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at Wits. He says that the human body starts its biological decline around the age of 30 and, unfortunately, athletic performance will usually start declining then too. “In some sports, such as gymnastics or contact sports, this can happen even earlier due to the physical stresses placed on the body and the training volume required.”
This means that most athletes are in a precarious position. Not only is a sporting career short by default, but one bad injury can end it suddenly and prematurely, followed by possible disaster. “An abrupt end due to injury often leaves athletes stuck, with endorsements and income suddenly coming to a halt, and no other skills or options to fall back on,” says Constantinou. “Pro athletes are quite young, which is part of the problem – they often don’t yet have the life skills and maturity to foresee that sport won’t be their life forever, and they don’t consider the long term. On top of that, elite sport is all-consuming. They train and exercise and read and think about sport from the moment they wake up, leaving little capacity for back-up plans.”
An abrupt end to a sporting career can be overwhelming for an athlete, says Rezana Hoosain, Academic Support and psychologist at Wits Sport. “There is a deep sense of loss that athletes grieve. Depending on the circumstances, there’s a range of emotions they may struggle with – a lack of purpose, feeling lost without the sport, frustration, worry about the future, financial concerns, feelings of worthlessness, anger, anxiety, and depression. Studies show that athletes who are forced to retire are more likely to report symptoms of distress, depression, and sleep disturbances, and have a worse quality of life and lower life satisfaction than athletes who retire on their own terms.”
But even for those who plan for it, a retirement from sport is a very harsh transition, she says, leaving former athletes questioning their purpose and identity while finding ways to generate an income.
The power of perseverance
The good news is that the skills learned in a high-performance environment such as elite sport can benefit an athlete in any other career, says Hoosain. “Grit, determination, mental toughness, the ability to set goals and follow through, and coping with pressure can definitely support their transition into a new career.”
Kwanele Ngema, a former Wits rugby player, says this was the case for him. “Starting my new career as an educator was not a challenge, practically speaking. Rugby taught me discipline – waking up early to attend gym, completing assignments ahead of time because of my demanding?schedule. I took those skills and applied them in my new context.”
But the transition was emotionally demanding, he says. “I was hoping to get a professional?contract and even put my Master’s aside?so that I could give rugby my undivided attention. But it didn’t materialise. It was a tough pill to swallow, having given up so much in pursuit of rugby. I felt I had done everything necessary to become a professional player. My family and mentor carried me during those times, and my friends were constant reminders that there is life outside rugby.”
Ngema pulled himself up by the proverbial bootstraps, applied himself to his studies, and is now an educator at Kearsney College, and proud coach of a new generation of athletes for the Sharks and Springboks development programmes.
His advice to elite athletes is to invest time in other?passions outside of sport. “Remember that sport is what you do, not who you are. Use the opportunities it gives you, and when it’s over, enjoy your new life – be present in every second.”
Like Ngema, former athletes often find ways to remain involved in their sport and use their skills in new roles, says Constantinou. “Many also make a career of it, becoming coaches, managers, or sports administrators. A sporting career won’t last forever, but those skills can be useful.”
Ultimately, everyone’s personal journey will be different.
Top tips to navigate work life after pro sport
Hoosain has this advice for athletes, whether they’re in the throes of their sport or when considering a new future:
- Set goals in your career and personal life. This will help you find a new life path after sport, whether that means studying further, starting a business, or mentoring other athletes.
- Invest in relationships with family and friends, and in broader society. A good support system can greatly impact the adjustment to post-sport life.
- Seek support. Whether a psychologist, financial planner, or mentor, find someone who can provide guidance where needed.
Constantinou believes sporting federations, managers, and even fans have a role to play, too. “Our sporting heroes give us a lot. They entertain us and they contribute to society – just look how the country rallies when the Boks or Bafana play. There should be more support for their post-sport careers while they’re playing. We owe it to them to care about their futures, too.”
- Delia du Toit is a freelance writer.
- This article first appeared in?Curiosity,?a research magazine produced by?Wits Communications?and the?Research Office.
- Read more in the 18th issue, themed #Work, which delves into the evolving nature of work, shaped by societal shifts, technological advances, and equity challenges.