Information from the General Administration of Sport of China shows that approximately 3,000 athletes step away from their careers annually. This number sees a spike in China after the Olympic Games and the National Games, with up to 40 percent of competitors hanging up their boots following the Games.
For most, the journey away from sports is filled with uncertainty. The glory and dreams that once accompanied them to the podium now fade, leaving them to ponder their next steps.
A new chapter
Speed skater Yang Yang, holder of 59 world championship titles, reached the conclusion of her illustrious career in 2006.
Upon retiring at the age of 31, she received an e-mail from a friend that read, "Welcome to the real world." This message was both a beacon of encouragement and a sobering reminder of the uncharted life that lay ahead. Yang chose to venture beyond the familiar territories of the athletic world.
After exploring different avenues, including volunteer work with international organizations and founding an ice skating school, Yang discovered her calling in 2011 when she established the China Champions Foundation (CCF), a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting athletes with their career and life transitions.
She said many athletes worldwide experience uncertainty upon concluding their careers. "The average retirement age for Olympic athletes is 28—a time when most non-athletes are making strides in their careers," she told China Newsweek magazine. "Athletes, having devoted years to rigorous training, often find themselves at a crossroads, lacking a comprehensive understanding of societal dynamics, which makes stepping into a new phase more intimidating than exhilarating."
Yang also expressed concern over the public's tendency to focus on star athletes, often overlooking the majority. She aspired to shift this perspective, advocating for greater societal support and encouragement to help athletes navigate their way into new fields.
As the founder and inaugural instructor of the CCF, Yang, even during her pregnancy, stood in front of her students as a beacon of confidence and courage. She reassured them, "We are not starting from zero. The one to two decades of training have not been in vain. We've cultivated many transferable skills and qualities beyond our sports capabilities."
She believes that the athletes' abilities to execute action plans and resist pressure are valuable qualities in the workplace.
Yang's vision for the CCF is to enable more athletes to leverage these attributes in pursuits beyond the realm of sports.
A new arena
With the development of digital technology, short video platforms have emerged as a dynamic stage for retired athletes to display their prowess and share their expertise. Yang has adeptly utilized short video platforms to disseminate knowledge about ice and snow sports. Through her insightful sharing, she inspires a broader audience to embrace and develop a passion for sports.
Guo Yan, a former table tennis champion, has navigated a multifaceted post-retirement career path. She engages in activities ranging from coaching table tennis and providing match commentary to educating the masses about sports on short video platforms.
With nearly 1 million followers on Douyin, TikTok's Chinese sister app, who are predominantly middle-aged and elderly enthusiasts, Guo interacts with her audience by reviewing their table tennis videos, offering advice and corrections on their techniques. To accommodate her early-bird elderly followers, she schedules her livestreams in the early mornings, making the national sport more accessible to them.
Wu Li, a former synchronized swimmer and now a fitness coach for the national swimming team, shares insights into her work and training routines via short videos. This not only helps professional swimmers in other regions improve their skills, but also bring synchronized swimming, or "artistic swimming," following the competitive sport's rebranding in 2017, closer to the general public.
A report from Douyin earlier this year reveals that over the past year, more than 2,500 retired athletes had become active on the platform, registering a 15- percent increase. The majority of these athletes competed in the 1980s, with significant representation from the 1990s and 2000s cohorts as well.
A new journey
After their retirement, some athletes embarked on entirely new ventures. Luo Rui, at 39, has transitioned from celebrated Paralympian to culinary entrepreneur in Yuxi, Yunnan Province in southwest China.
In 2007, Luo made headlines at the National Paralympic Games, securing victories in the T60 category for the 400-meter, 800-meter and 400-meter hurdles, a feat that not only showcased his talent but also earned him the prestigious role of torchbearer for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games. Over his career, he amassed more than 50 medals, making him a phenomenal athlete.
However, Luo's life took a dramatic turn after retiring in 2015. The consecutive losses of his elder sister and mother plunged him into deep sorrow. During this difficult period, he and his sister Luo Juan decided to open a restaurant, which would later be affectionately known as the "Silent Restaurant," employing staff with hearing impairments.
Gradually, the "Silent Restaurant" has established itself as a beloved local establishment, drawing in customers not only with its delicious offerings but also with the compelling story of perseverance and strength that underpins it.
Recently, Luo and his wife celebrated the birth of their child, an event Luo cherishes as his "new gold medal." Looking ahead, he dreams of expanding his business, aspiring to create more opportunities for individuals with hearing impairments. "In the future, I dream of opening a bigger restaurant and working alongside more people with hearing impairments," he told Xinhua News Agency.
(Print edition title: Beyond the Finish Line)
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
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