06-19-22 03:56 PM - Post#920011    

For anyone who has experience either being a high level QII/IV athlete or has any experience coaching/training them, what do QII/IV athletes do after they’re done competing in their sports? How do their goals change? If a QII/IV athlete came you to as a personal trainer and said “now what?”, what would be your answer? Do you just focus on rehab and health, do you find something else to scratch the competitive itch, or what?

thought of this question after I was watching the NBA Finals (this by no means applies to me, it’s purely an academic question), which made me think of stories of what athletes have done after they retired. Ryan Hall has gotten into lifting weights and general fitness stuff after retiring from running, Andre Reed still continued to train like a wide receiver for a long time, Lance Armstrong and Sean Green (NBA) got into amateur triathlon stuff, and guys like Charles Barkley, Shaq, and Bo Jackson just enjoy the golf course and don’t seem to have interest in physically activity.

Edited by PulledPork on 06-19-22 03:57 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.

06-20-22 07:56 AM - Post#920021    

I was involved in high level elite amateur cycling in college and knew a handful of professional cyclists. Quite a few ended up in sales careers after they hung up their cleats. Moved back to the town I went to college in 25 years after I had left and many are involved in selling real estate these days.

Personally got into sales as well, and let's just say it wasn't that uncommon to run into sales managers who played Division I or II football or baseball.

06-20-22 02:20 PM - Post#920029    

Appreciate the response. From a physical activity perspective, did they still like to get on the bike on occasion or did their pursuits start going in another direction? That was kind of what I was trying to get at with my post (probably I worded it terribly).

06-20-22 04:44 PM - Post#920031    

I know many older track and field athletes. One thing I have noticed is that those who got to international level don't have the same urge to train and compete, and are more likely to train reasonably for general health in whatever way they want. However, those of us who didn't quite make it are constantly "between comebacks" and trying to compete and relive our youth, or do as well as we can as masters.

06-21-22 07:34 AM - Post#920041    

• PulledPork Said:

So the actual elite guys that I knew (as in competed internationally or professionally) are all in their 50's now. Most don't compete anymore and if they do it isn't in the sport that they were successful in. Instead of road racing they now putz around on a mountain bike for fun. Or they don't run anymore but still go hiking.

Of everyone that I know of in their 50's & 60's the one that is still on top of their game is a retired ex-PJ from the Air Force. At 70 he's still doing search and rescues and dangling from helicopters on occasion while doing so. Spends up to 10-12 hours huffing it up mountain trails with a 40 pound pack.

06-22-22 02:40 AM - Post#920050    

I think that’s at least anecdotally what I’ve observed from afar. People who reached the highest level decided to fully retire, and many explored other interests. People who came close maybe still train like they often have something to prove. I’m always reminded of Andre Reed on the show Pros vs Joes. Age looked exactly like the did on the Bills teams that lost 4 Super Bowls in the 1990s. (that’s got to be painful). Additionally, it must be a big change if you’re leaving something you’ve spent most of your life doing (Tom Brady is exhibit 2).

06-24-22 07:25 AM - Post#920085    

It's worth just looking at numbers. I reread the newer version (2003?) of Paper Lion and I was shocked at how young most of the people in the book died.

Tony Sargusa (spelling) died yesterday at 55.

It seems to almost be a U in my experience. EITHER the athlete flows into a healthier lifestyle OR they just really get fillin the blank.

Former swimmers for a while were famous for this; woman's gymnastics seems to send some life issues, too. The 1972 O gold medalist, as I understand, basically doubled in size quickly. Figure skaters seem to be able to go pro for a long time, but, as I was told, seem to have some emotional issues.

From my experience, athletes who bump up on elite seem to do really well in life. Obviously, the Jordans and Woods et al can live off the money practically forever, but those who were "almost there" tend to pivot well.

It's a great question. My best feedback, in emails and such, often comes from former SpecOps people who are trying to figure out Plan B.

It's worthy of a Ph.D discussion

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

06-24-22 07:43 AM - Post#920086    

• Dan John Said:

I'd have to dig to find it, but read something about 15-20 years ago that looked at life expectancy of professional athletes. For baseball, basketball and hockey it was roughly 75 years of age compared to 78 years of age for most American men. Playing those sports didn't really affect life expectancy, at best shaved off a year or two.

What stood out was the life expectancy of pro football players. It was 56 years of age. Playing in the NFL takes off two decades.

This was an old study, so don't know if it's changed in the roughly 15 years since I read the original article.

06-24-22 11:33 AM - Post#920089    

I worked with many guys who had been D-I athletes in mostly football and basketball along with a few minor league baseball players. That said, they all felt transitioning to being a firefighter was a good move.

Mark it Zero.

06-24-22 12:25 PM - Post#920090    

I once had a conversation with a former NBA star point guard who claimed he was more proud of his empire of Five Guys franchises than anything he did on the court.

06-26-22 12:53 AM - Post#920103    

• SpiderLegs Said:

Anabolic steroids and multiple concussions will do that.

Athletic Club East Strength in numbers

Re: What do high level QII and QIV athletes do after they retire?
06-26-22 07:44 PM - Post#920114    

There were exceptions.

Al Oerter. Probably others.

06-27-22 01:18 PM - Post#920131    

So I shared a flat with one of the best pole vaulters on the planet, literally a few month after she stopped competing. She mostly went jogging. Nothing out of the ordinary.

And a friend of my brother was Germany's best decathlete as a late teen. He didn't do anything special either when he stopped training hard, as far as I can tell. Now, quite a few years later, he is still faster and stronger than practically anyone you'll meet, though. Genetics and training are weird.

06-27-22 03:17 PM - Post#920133    

Kyle, that 55 age thing was true in the era before steroids. I got this number from my brother...I think he got it from Tom Fahey. I was a high school sophomore...so 1972 or so.

The NFL guys dying in 1972 would have played post-WWII.

The concussion thing is really interesting. Both Coach Maughan and Coach Dejong told us that adding face guards on helmets lead to more concussions as the helmet became a weapon. Of course, both were missing teeth!

Daniel John Just handing down what I was handed down... Make a Difference. Live. Love. Laugh. Balance work, rest, play and pray (enjoy beauty and solitude) Sleep soundly. Drink Water. Eat veggies and protein. Walk. Wear your seat belt. Don’t smoke. Floss your teeth. Put weights overhead. Pick weights off the floor. Carry weights. Reread great books. Say thank you

06-28-22 01:26 AM - Post#920154    

I've heard that bare knuckles boxing was/is better for concussion and long term brain damage, simply because taping and gloves allow you to hit people in the head consistently in a way you just can't with bare hands.