CAREER TRANSITION AND AGING OF OLYMPIC MIDDLE-DISTANCE TRACK ATHLETESThe 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