After years of shelling out thousands for elite coaching and equipment and sacrificing a regular paycheck, athletes sometimes find themselves adjusting to life off the field. It’s not uncommon for “regular people” to retire in their 60s or 70s, but for many athletes this milestone comes much sooner and can be difficult to navigate.
One athlete that is finding success in the transition to retirement is middle-distance runner Laura Weightman. The two-time Olympic finalist has hung up her competition spikes, but she’ll keep on coaching the next generation of athletes. Croatian high jumper Ivana Vlasic also hung up her competition boots, but she’ll continue to serve as an ambassador for her sport.
On the football side, New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu decided to hang up his cleats after 12 seasons with the NFL. Known for his toughness and blond patch in his hair, the Heisman Trophy finalist had 21.5 sacks during his career and will now coach at the Buffalo Bills.
Another football player who is retiring early is New England Patriots linebacker Lorenzo Carter. The former Tennessee Titans star has racked up 21.5″ sacks during his 12 NFL seasons and will now join the Buffalo Bills’ coaching staff.
Soccer revolutionary Alex Morgan is also preparing to say goodbye to the game after scoring 123 goals for the U.S. women’s national team and ranking third in league history. In a tearful video posted to social media Thursday, Morgan said that she’ll be proud of her legacy and is happy to have helped push the game forward for young girls.