CAREER TRANSITION AND AGING OF OLYMPIC MIDDLE-DISTANCE TRACK ATHLETESAbstract
The processes of career transition and aging can represent turbulent moments in athletes’ lives. Therefore, this study aims to identify, systematize, and analyze the experiences reported by retired Olympic athletes in track and field. The research methodology used was qualitative-quantitative in nature, involving a preliminary questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The participants were nine middle-distance runners who represented Brazil in the Olympics from 1984 to 2016, with an average age of 56.7 (±8.56) years. After transcribing the recorded interviews, timeline maps were developed, and common points in the athletes’ career trajectories and transitions were identified. It was observed that all athletes chose a dual-career path, balancing their studies with high-performance sports. This seems to have eased their adaptation to a new professional career. Regarding quality of life, 88.88% of the participants continue to engage in physical exercise, and none reported physical limitations resulting from their athletic careers.
Keywords
Athletes; Aging; Retirement; Career Mobility
Resumo
O processo de transição de carreira e envelhecimento podem representar momentos conturbados na vida dos atletas e, portanto, este estudo objetiva identificar, sistematizar e analisar relatos de experiências de atletas olímpicos aposentados, na modalidade de atletismo. A metodologia de pesquisa utilizada foi de natureza quali-quantitativa através de questionário prévio e entrevista semiestruturada. Participaram nove corredores meio-fundistas que representaram o Brasil nas Olímpiadas de 1984-2016, com a média de idade de 56,7 (±8,56) anos. Após transcrição das entrevistas gravadas, foram desenvolvidos mapas de linha de tempo e identificados pontos em comum na trajetória e transição de carreira dos atletas. Observou-se que todos os atletas optaram por uma dupla carreira, conciliando os estudos com a alta performance. Isso parece ter suavizado a adaptação a uma nova carreira laboral dos sujeitos. No quesito qualidade de vida, 88,88% dos sujeitos continuam praticando exercícios físicos e nenhum demonstrou limitações físicas decorrentes da carreira atlética.
Palavras-chave
Atletas; Envelhecimento; Aposentadoria; Mobilidade ocupacional
Resumen
El proceso de transición de carrera y envejecimiento puede representar momentos difíciles en la vida de los atletas y por eso, este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar, sistematizar y analizar relatos de las experiencias de los atletas olímpicos retirados en la modalidad de atletismo. La metodología de investigación utilizada fue de naturaleza cuali-cuantitativa a través de un cuestionario previo y una entrevista semiestructurada. Participaron nueve corredores mediofondistas que representaron a Brasil en las Olimpiadas de 1984-2016, con una media de edad de 56,7 (+\-8,56) años. Después de la transcripción de las entrevistas grabadas, se desarrollaron mapas de línea de tiempo e identificados puntos en común en la trayectoria y transición de la carrera de los atletas. Se observó que todos los atletas optaron por una doble carrera, conciliando los estudios con el alto rendimiento. Eso parece haber facilitado la adaptación a una nueva carrera laboral de los sujetos. En relación a la calidad de vida, el 88,88% de los sujetos continúan practicando ejercicio físico y ninguno presentó limitaciones físicas relacionadas a la carrera atlética.
Palabras clave
Atletas; Envejecimiento; Jubilación; Movilidad Laboral
1 INTRODUCTION
Qualifying for the Olympic Games is a dream of any professional athlete. The process required to achieve this feat is exhausting and demands constant physical and mental dedication. Giving up family time, maintaining a strict diet, living with high expectations, and pushing the body to its limits in specific training sessions are just a few examples that are constantly repeated by world-class athletes. The extreme demands of high-level sports can limit the development of athletes’ broader interests early in life (Barker-Ruchti et al., 2019), and the natural progression of age, coupled with a decline in performance, causes them to begin the career transition process (Hackfort; Huang, 2005).
The transition out of a sports career is therefore an inevitable stage in an athlete’s career (Brandão et al., 2000). High-performance athletes tend to retire early due to injuries or because they are considered too old to compete (Huxley; O’Connor; Healey, 2014). Retired athletes are forced to adapt to the experience of having once lived in privileged bodies capable of showcasing the limits of athletic potential, and now having to live in bodies in which they are limited to performing only common activities. Thus, previous literature shows that retirement can be a difficult transition for athletes, requiring them to recalibrate their identities away from the athletic focus (Cosh; Crabb; Lecouteur, 2012).
Studies suggest that regular sports practice conditions aging with quality of life (Mora; Valencia, 2018), but sports injuries can affect the daily lives of former athletes, affecting physical and mental health (Gouttebarge; Frings-Dresen; Sluiter, 2015), suggesting that they face consequences from their sports careers. For Barbosa Filho et al. (2018), it is necessary to understand how these individuals are affected, that is, their metabolic health, physical fitness, and quality of life when their sports careers end. To contribute to this discussion, this study will seek to present, discuss, and analyze the experiences from the key Olympic middle-distance athletes in the history of Brazilian athletics and understand how their career transition occurred and what characteristics marked their aging process.
Regarding the end of a sports career and the post–high-performance period, we do not yet have, in the sports environment, the guidance of experts who have studied the problem, who master the subject and establish specific knowledge for this purpose, as well as recommendations for action.
Athletes live under the spotlight during the peak of their sporting careers, with financial and structural support from government and private initiatives. Perhaps this is why their career transition has the same visibility, but not always the same support. But then why do some athletes succeed (or find it easier) in their transition and others do not? According to Harris (2018), the answer is unclear and may be related to planning or even a little luck.
In general, athletes pursue a professional career for about one-third of their lives. According to Costa (2006), retirement in sports occurs early, at an age when professionals are at the peak of their productive lives. Although some manage to adapt to this transition satisfactorily, others may face difficulties or a lack of skills (Wylleman; Lavalle; Alfermann, 1999). When their sports career ends, former athletes tend to engage in behaviors that are more harmful to their health than active athletes, including increased fat mass, reduced performance, risky behaviors (unhealthy eating), mental health problems, and economic problems (Barbosa Filho et al., 2018). Considering the growing number of retired athletes in Brazil, there is a shortage of public policies, as there is only one program focused on career transition, unlike what happens in developed countries (Rúbio, 2012). Aiming to contribute to this discussion, this study will seek to map the way in which the career-ending process of Brazilian Olympic middle-distance athletes occurred, identifying the relationship between high-performance training and aging. Additionally, it will aim to understand how these former successful athletes live today, and what their health and financial conditions are.
2 METHODOLOGY
Quantitative research is an approach that uses numerical data and statistical analysis to study phenomena, with the aim of generating accurate and reliable measurements, allowing for general inferences and conclusions. This methodology seeks to collect numerical data and use it to measure variables, test hypotheses, and establish relationships between them (Sampieri; Collado; Lucio, 2013). A preliminary questionnaire was sent via Google Forms to obtain the sociodemographic characteristics, habits, and reasons for retirement of the athletes. These data were tabulated in Excel, calculating the average and formulating tables.
The choice of a qualitative approach aims to understand the influence of aging on athletes’ career transitions and their consequences. Therefore, this study consists of experience-based narratives, aiming to identify the main factors or variables involved in a situation or behavior (Maia, 2020). The semi-structured interview script was based on previous research, which emphasized that sports retirement should be studied as a process rather than a specific result or event captured at a single moment (Kelly; Hickey, 2008). Thus, the same topics were addressed with all interviewees, while allowing the conversations to be sufficiently open to avoid restrictions, given that the participants had unique life experiences. During the interview process, which was recorded using the Google Meet platform and later transcribed, participants were invited to share their sports careers, focusing on the career transition phase, as well as to describe their daily routines and their own perceptions about aging in sport. Prior to the interviews, a preliminary questionnaire was sent by email, following the model of Lawrence (2017), to determine socioeconomic, racial, and anthropometric aspects.
The study group consisted of Brazilian middle-distance athletes, i.e., 800-meter and 1500-meter runners who participated in one or more editions of the Summer Olympic Games between 1984 and 2016 and ended their careers. The Brazilian Olympic Committee was contacted to access the complete list of athletes selected for Olympic teams during the specified period, and a search was then conducted via email, social media, and telephone. Athletes who are still active were excluded from the study. It should be noted that the subjects who agreed to participate in the research were duly informed about the objectives of the study and, for the purpose of confirming their participation, signed a free and informed consent form. Following the other guidelines, this research project was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, whose reference number is 76822823.7.0000.5346. In order to preserve the identity of the research participants, the subjects were indicated in the text with the initial of the word “athlete” and a sequential number, thus being reported as “A1”, “A2”, and so on.
The analytical process followed a method often used in narrative gerontology and by story analysts from various disciplines (Medeiros, 2013). Based on Silver’s (2021) analysis, the video recordings were reviewed and transcribed in an open-code format, and from these, a timeline trajectory map was developed, describing the main points of the athletic career, as well as the challenges of career transition and subsequent retirement. A second round of coding was then carried out to map the main habits and activities of athletes during and after their careers, with emerging themes related to aging. The shared experiences were then grouped together for analysis of the results found.
3 DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Nine middle-distance track and field athletes (three female and six male) participated in the study, who represented Brazil in the Olympic Games from 1984 to 2016 and have already retired from competitive athletics. The average age of the athletes is 56.7 (±8.56) years, and their sociodemographic characteristics are shown in Table 1.
There is a noticeable diversity in the characteristics of the subjects, something very important in Brazilian culture. In addition, it is noteworthy that all of them had completed higher education, with 22.22% of the athletes also having completed postgraduate studies. In terms of gender, the study is composed mostly of men, suggesting that they were more successful in reaching the Olympic level of competition in this group of events. Still on the subject of the performance quality of the athletes studied, it is worth noting that this sample includes three of the four possible Brazilian record holders in the 800 meters and 1500 meters, of both genders. These athletes have also achieved significant results in the Olympic Games.
3.1 OLYMPIC ATHLETES AND STUDENTS
A divergent discussion in the literature concerns whether athletes should or should not engage in academic or professional activities alongside high-performance sport. These study-related demands require the athlete to organize a schedule so that they can reconcile the hours of training, travel, physical therapy, rest, and nutrition with their study hours. Could this additional activity be detrimental or desirable in light of the demands of athletes’ future professional lives?
Competing in the Olympic Games often reflects a life dedicated to sport, with years of physical and cognitive development, as well as an unrelenting desire, as stated by athlete A9.
From an early age, Olympic values and the desire to participate in the Games were instilled in me. We trained every day. In fact, we rested one Monday a month. (A9)
It is clear, therefore, that this dedication required an extremely planned routine, but according to the athletes’ reports, it could be developed alongside other academic activities, corroborating what Quishida (2007) says about the importance of continuous training, which occurs on one’s own initiative or with encouragement from a coach or family.
Sport allows you, if you have academic ability, to study abroad... And my coach also said that my legs would last only so long, but your academic training and knowledge will stay with you for life. (A2).
I always kept studying. My life has basically always been about training, competing, and studying. (A1).
To become an Olympic athlete, I never gave up on my education; I always continued studying. (A5).
[...] if you want to continue growing in your life as you did in sports, you need to prepare yourself by studying or already working in different areas. (A6).
Such statements contrast with the view of Barker-Ruchti et al. (2019), who suggest that the extreme demands of high-level sports can limit athletes’ broader interests. Despite evidence such as that provided by Subijana, Barriopedra, and Conde (2015), which points out that many athletes find it difficult to adapt college to their individual needs, resulting in a longer time to complete their studies compared to students who are not athletes. There is a constant affirmation in the athletes’ reports of their concern with the pursuit of knowledge and the full use of the opportunities that sport ultimately brings.
My goal in athletics was not money, it was not to be in the spotlight, I had something bigger than my own life to achieve, which was to pursue studying and practicing sports in another world, in the reality of the USA. (A8)
I think Olympic sport in our country still needs to be seen as a facilitator for your life and career. It gives you the opportunity to study, travel the world and, if you want, learn a little on these trips. (A2)
My family didn’t expect me to make money from sport, but rather to pursue an education. In fact, I was the first in my family to go to college. Eleven years after my first Olympic participation, I returned to Brazil to complete my studies. (A5)
According to Pallarés et al. (2011), there are three types of sports career plans: the linear path, in which the athlete is exclusively dedicated to the sport; the convergent path, in which the athlete prioritizes their sports career but maintains another activity, such as studying or working; and the parallel path, in which the athlete gives equal importance to their sports career and the alternative activity. Vilanova and Puig (2013) found that 31.9% of Olympic athletes choose the linear path, that is, dedicating themselves exclusively to the sport. Unlike this study, where it was noted that eight athletes opted for the convergent path, prioritizing their career while maintaining their studies, and one athlete chose the parallel path, as described below.
I have always been a woman full of dreams, and I couldn’t let one of my pillars unbalance the other. And I believe I only became the athlete I was because I continued to do other activities, such as going to college, working, and being a mother, while I was still competing, and for me, that was the right choice. (A6)
Most likely, this choice to remain academically active brought this group a smoother and more positive transition process than most athletes experience, especially regarding the need for a new profession after retirement at an age considered early. Another study conducted by Vilanova and Puig (2013) classified athletes who choose the parallel and convergent path as “strategists” and stated that this group gets better jobs and is happier than non-strategists. This finding is consistent with what Veloso and Dutra (2014) say is fundamental in building a career, since training is seen as a continuous process responsible for career transitions. Melo and Rubio (2017) also found that nearly 50% of Brazilian female Olympic athletes pursued higher education.
3.2 CAREER TRANSITION AND AGING
According to Wylleman, Lavalle, and Alferman (1999), early career transition theories were derived from thanatology and social gerontology. The first perspective refers to the study of the process of death and dying.
Between 1988 and 1992, I had five surgeries. At the age of 25, from 1989 onwards, I began to see my end, in the most direct way possible, I began to see my death. A premature death. (A8).
Nothing moved me as much and brought me as many achievements as being on the track representing my nation, so this moment of stopping was one of the most difficult things in my life (A1).
For Rúbio (2012), one of the elements that leads an athlete to plan their career transition is the fact that their body no longer responds to the demands and performance expectations in training and competitions. With advancing age, physiological functional capacity declines at some point, even in healthy adults (Tanaka, 2017). Studies by Silva (2019) show that 50% of respondents linked age as a determining factor for career transition, with statements such as “my performance was no longer what I wanted it to be.” These observations can be corroborated by the reports of the athletes in this study, who, as their careers progressed, noticed that their bodies became more prone to injury and experienced a slight decline in performance, which, in the case of high performance, is very significant.
I noticed that over time, I developed more injuries. Tendinitis, fasciitis, and this hindered the development of my work. (A3).
Even though at 39 years old I was still running 1min45sec, I realized that my results were no longer the same, as my best times were around 1min43sec. (A9).
This idea matured over time due to mental fatigue, as I was already saturated with the training routine, in addition to the results that were no longer coming at the same level. So, athletics no longer brought me so many achievements, but rather frustrations. (A1)
I realized mechanically that I couldn’t transform training and preparation into performance, and this was something beyond motivation, beyond supreme strength; it was something more internal, the machine itself didn’t work the same way. (A8).
Age is therefore seen as one of the reasons for ending a sports career, and even though new technologies and scientific advances contribute to prolonging it, there is an inevitable decline in physical abilities over the years (Martini, 2012). Studies by Nakata (2014) showed that seven of the 13 athletes interviewed thought about retiring from sports when they were injured. In this study, we note the mention of situations related to aging, such as loss of performance, advancing age, and increased incidence of injuries, which naturally lead to demotivation. There are also situations of loss of financial support, as shown in Table 2 and the reports below.
Another reason was the lack of financial return. There came a time when I realized that I needed to do other things that would be more worthwhile in this regard. (A4).
Besides that, I gradually lost sponsors and club support, meaning I was no longer as useful to them as before, and that demotivated me. (A1).
There is also a very important aspect in the career transition of athletes with regard to their stage of life. The working life of an athlete is usually consistent with the age of an adult in their prime working years, i.e., while an athlete ends their career around the age of 35 (IBGE, 2013), other professions continue until around the age of 60 to 65 (INSS, 2013). This characteristic is pointed out as early retirement by the studies of Maciel, Cappelle, and Campos (2015) and Costa (2006), reinforcing that the end occurs when the professional is still at the peak of their productive life. These statements are consistent with the data in Table 3, which shows that all subjects in this study ended their careers between the ages of 30 and 40.
Based on these data, the importance of institutional support is also evident, since career transition occurs when athletes have about two-thirds of their lives ahead of them. Only 33.33% of respondents reported receiving support from their clubs, confederations, or the Brazilian Olympic Committee. According to Campos, Capelle, and Maciel (2017), there are no public policies to address the retirement of athletes, only the Career Transition Program of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, which has limited access.
No one ever sat down and talked to me about how I could prepare for retirement. (A3).
So, I didn’t have anyone’s help, no transition specialist, I had to start from scratch. (A8).
I received support from the Brazilian Olympic Committee through the Career Transition Program, with guidance from former athletes who had also gone through this transition before. (A1).
These points were also noted in Nakata’s studies (2014), in which 46.15% of respondents said that organizations provided some support, but that it did not seem very relevant, also citing the Brazilian Olympic Committee Transition Program as a more current and important initiative. Athletes from other sports mentioned initiatives from their specific Confederations, something that is not yet done in athletics and that this study aims to help develop.
Despite this, most of the athletes interviewed (77.77%) view their career transition positively, which suggests that they were prepared for and understood that their studies would support their post-career through the possibility of a new profession, as analyzed in the next chapter. This differs from the findings of a similar study conducted by Vilanova and Puig (2014) with Spanish Olympic athletes, which revealed that two athletes who were unable to study during their careers, something they themselves reported as a lack of awareness of the future, ended up having a troubled career transition, with severe depression and difficulties in finding a new profession. It should be considered that middle-distance athletes may have more freedom in their schedules to balance other activities, since they often train alone and in different locations.
3.3 ADAPTATIONS TO THE TRANSITION: A NEW CAREER
It is assumed that building a life after retiring from sports includes a new professional activity, which may be different from the activities they performed in sports and for which there are no prerequisites in terms of qualifications or any form of preparation.
According to Scholossberg, Waters, and Goodman (1995), transitions can be classified as anticipated or unanticipated. Anticipated transitions correspond to events scheduled by individuals, while non-anticipated transitions are related to unforeseen events, such as a serious injury. In the present study, it was noted that all sports retirements occurred as planned, rather than prematurely. However, according to Costa (2006), retirement in sports occurs early, at an age when professionals are at the peak of their productive lives. In other words, even with planning and preparation, finding a new career is a challenge that can be noted by the interviewees.
So, it took me ten years to find the job I have today. The transition isn’t easy, no matter how much you study, no matter how well-known you are for your behavior on and off the track, people will have to believe in you to give you a chance in another field. (A8).
But anyway, I believe that this career management, public image, and financial investments have to happen in parallel with your studies, so you can prepare yourself. And even then, when you stop, it won’t be easy. (A2).
Regarding my professional activities, when I retired, I already had other businesses to focus on, but it wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t easy, because I no longer had a clear identity compared to when I was an athlete, and it took me a while to really find what I wanted. (A1).
The last quote also reveals a concern with identity, which was very latent for a successful Olympic athlete who no longer had a clear identity. Bauman (2005) understands that anxiety about identity comes from the desire to feel secure, as people need to belong to a group. Perhaps this is why it is natural for athletes to continue in a field related to the sport in which they competed. 77.77% of respondents continue to work in sports, either as coaches, managers, project coordinators, or agents. This situation was also noted in the study by Nakata (2014), in which 12 of the 13 respondents remained involved in sports, and in the research by Lin, Gajewski, and Poznanska (2016), which found that approximately half of retired Polish Olympic athletes become coaches, sports instructors, or Physical Education teachers.
Since I already had this idea in my head of becoming a coach, and even because I was a reference, even though I lived in the US, I was already coaching some athletes, and this became more and more apparent, especially because our presence and advice began to transform lives, and this became my legacy: empowering people. (A5).
I always had it very clear in my mind that I would have to stop at some point and find another profession that would also fulfill me. Currently, I have a group of personal trainers, and that is how I fulfill myself. (A4).
Despite the challenges imposed by a new profession, the sample studied was happy and satisfied with their new career. According to Rubio (2012), values such as perseverance, sacrifice, hard work, and commitment, which shape young athletes for a competitive life, can also be seen in a new career. For authors Alfermann and Stambulova (2007), it is normal for athletes to confront who they are with who they wanted to be, taking each new task as a challenge for their development.
Once you are ready and available, doors will open. But on the other hand, if you find it too difficult or make excuses, the doors will not open. You have to want it. (A5)
Today, I am perhaps happier than when I was an athlete. That’s because when you are an athlete, you often focus only on yourself, but today I have the opportunity to be with a group of people, which means it’s more of a collective effort, and I can have an impact on and influence more people. That’s why I consider my transition to have been a healthy one. (A6).
Prepare yourself for this moment while you are still young. Study, either in a technical course or at university, thinking about a future profession, especially about being employed when you stop running. (A9).
3.4 ADAPTATIONS TO THE TRANSITION: PHYSICAL EXERCISE
Based on studies of former athletes, the literature indicates that giving up physical activity is associated with the development of negative habits, such as poor diet, substance abuse, obesity, and a general deterioration of body image. In addition, these studies also identified cases of depression and relationship problems. However, the data investigated showed a different reality for the group studied.
According to studies by Teramoto and Bungum (2010), former athletes have shown better health factors compared to the general population. Elite athletes seem to be more likely to remain active in retirement, with the intensity and frequency of physical activity remaining above average.
After taking some time to rest, I realized that physical activity was what sustained me, that I needed it. From that point on, I understood that there is no such thing as retiring from sport itself, only from competition, but not from physical activity. (A8).
My routine today is very similar in terms of the care I took when I was an athlete. If I do a harder workout today, tomorrow I do a lighter workout to recover. It’s important to find activities that are more suited to your age and to seek balance in your diet. (A2).
Even after I retired, I found this balance, of exercise, of keeping myself moving, it’s part of who I am. (A5).
Everyone ages, but now each person chooses how they want to live their old age. So, I believe that everyone can do some exercise, within their limitations. That’s what I believe, and that’s how I live. (A4).
These statements are consistent with what Trauer (2021) found in her research with master basketball players, who generally presented a positive lifestyle profile, linked to good eating habits and stress management through sport. For Levy and Banaji (2002), having positive role models for successful aging has led some researchers to question the negative stereotypes of aging related to sport. Retirement from sport has sometimes been associated with other challenges, such as eating disorders (Jones; Glintmeyer; McKenzie, 2005), low self-confidence (Stephan; Torregrosa; Sanchez, 2007), substance abuse (Mannes et al. 2019), and even suicide (Malcolm; Scott, 2012). However, the reports and variables found with the athletes in this study, presented in Table 4, seem to contradict the previous statements.
It should be noted that only one subject does not engage in regular physical activity, and that 77.77% of athletes maintain a weekly frequency of activities equal to or greater than three times a week. Another noteworthy finding is that none of the athletes studied reported pain resulting from performance that currently prevents them from practicing sports, differing from the research by Gouttebarge, Frings-Dresen, and Sluiter (2015), which found evidence that injuries sustained by athletes in other track and field events affected their daily lives, as well as their physical and mental health. Studies suggest that regular sports practice conditions aging with quality of life (Mora; Valencia, 2018), so even though reconnecting to a daily exercise routine may have taken some time, it was noticed that athletes understood that this practice was essential to maintaining quality of life.
I always had good eating habits, I didn’t eat sweets, I didn’t eat junk food, I never drank, I always went to bed early, those were my normal habits. But at that moment, as a human being, I needed physical activity to balance my mental, spiritual, and especially my physiological side. (A3).
So, this chronological process of aging is not something you can deny; it happens naturally. Now, the essential point is to remain more physically active and not accept these limitations as an excuse for not moving. (A7).
Even though I was tired of the training routine, I always stayed active, but without any pressure. (A1).
Today I do weight training, go for walks, and run very little. (A9).
4 FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
Through this in-depth study on aging and career transition, it was noted that Brazilian Olympic middle-distance runners face two major challenges in their athletic retirement: finding a new activity or profession and understanding that physical exercise must always be part of their routine. The first challenge seems to be directly linked to what the athlete has cultivated during their career in terms of acquiring knowledge through academic opportunities. This improvement, combined with practical life experiences, many of which are unique and singular, such as competing in the Olympic Games, seems to open doors. The second challenge is to have a successful career in terms of performance and achievements, which still allows the athlete to enjoy the rest of their life with quality, being able to use their body to maintain physical and leisure activities, enjoying unique moments with their family and friends, which were often not part of their routine during their athletic career. Athletes in this scope, despite having faced challenges, seem to have achieved a smooth career transition. Voorheis, Silver, and Consonni (2023) reiterate that although most of the literature links athletic retirement to problems, over time and with new life adjustments, the adverse effects diminish, thus evidencing a good quality of life for most of them.
The aforementioned challenges could be supported by effective programs developed by the institutions that make up the sports sector. Unfortunately, it is evident that, in Brazil, athletes still need to understand, from a very young age, the importance of planning their careers individually. This is due to the limited career transition support programs and the absence of laws addressing special retirement for athletes. Recently, the first discussions on this topic have begun at the Senate level, and it is hoped that studies like this can help highlight the need to develop public policies addressing this issue, as well as strengthen the role of universities, which, together, can impact not only high-performance sports and their transitions but also the overall evolution of our society.
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FUNDING
This work was not supported by any funding agency.
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RESEARCH ETHICS
The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Protocol number 76822823.7.0000.5346.
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HOW TO CITE
WEBER, Jaqueline Beatriz; LEMOS, Luiz Fernando Cuozzo. Career Transition and Aging of Olympic Middle-Distance Track Athletes. Movimento, v. 32, p. e31001, Jan./Dec. 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22456/1982-8918.144324
RESEARCH DATA AVAILABILITY
Research data is available upon request only.
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Edited by
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EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Alex Branco Fraga* https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6881-1446Elisandro Schultz Wittizorecki* https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7825-0358Guy Ginciene* https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9709-4223Mauro Myskiw* https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4689-3804Raquel da Silveira* https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8632-0731* Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Dança, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
