For athletes, retirement can be a bittersweet experience. While regular people typically retire in their 60s or 70s, professional athletes often end their careers at much younger ages and must adjust to a drastically altered lifestyle. They must go from being highly compensated and well-managed to surviving on minimum wages and sometimes with little support.

For many athletes, especially those who have struggled with injuries or illness, the end of their athletic careers can be difficult and traumatic. Former NFL star Junior Seau committed suicide after retiring and some athletes have been known to struggle with depression following retirement from sport.

Other retired athletes find second careers in fashion, real estate and broadcasting. While some, such as Charles Barkley and Venus Williams have been successful outside of sports, many others fail to make the transition and end up broke.

The pandemic has forced a number of athletes to retire early and some who had planned on competing at the Olympics have been forced to stop training due to fear of contracting the disease. For these athletes, retiring can be particularly tough as they would have been hoping to medal at the games.

Some athletes, however, have been able to make a U-turn on their retirement plans and have returned to competition, such as rower Helen Glover and diver Tom Daley. For these athletes, returning to competition can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. For those who are planning on retiring from their sport, there are a number of things they should consider before making the decision.