7 Summary of Session 7
Through hearing the stories of several elite athletes within this session you have looked at both the reasons that athletes have for retiring as well as the impact this transition can have, whether forced or chosen. You have also briefly considered why some athletes may choose to defer their retirement and others may decide to make a comeback.
The key learning points from this seventh session are:
- Retirement is potentially one of the most challenging transitions an athlete will experience.
- Chosen retirement isn’t necessarily less problematic but it has the potential to be more positive for the athlete if the right support is in place.
- Forced retirement can result in an athlete’s mental health and wellbeing suffering.
- Some athletes defer retirement by continuing to compete past their peak, while others make a comeback after retirement.
In the final session of this course, you will move on to look at what happens after retirement and life after sport.
You should now go to Session 8 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .