In the past few weeks, we’ve seen a flurry of athlete retirement news: Super Bowl hero Nick Foles is hanging up his jersey and two-time Olympic gold medalist Alex Morgan will play her final game Sunday. Both athletes’ decision marks a major milestone in their lives, but it can be hard to know when the time is right.
Especially when you’re competing at the highest levels of your sport, retiring can feel like you are letting go of your identity. That can be hard on players, particularly when they retire at young ages. It can also be financially challenging to make the shift from high-end salaries to budgeting for elite training and equipment that costs thousands a month. Some Olympians and Paralympians find themselves on food stamps or credit card debt in their early post-athletic years.
The biggest change for many athletes is finding their self-identity outside of their sport. That can be hard when you have your entire life, and even your childhood, centered around sports. It can also be hard for coaches, teammates and parents when an athlete decides to retire. They lose the routine of going to practice and competitions, and they can no longer share in the athlete’s success.
Fortunately, it’s possible to “un-retire” and come back better than ever. Here are four athletes who decided they were ready to throw in the towel but ended up “un-retiring” and making their careers even more successful.