How Can Andy Murray Cope With Retirement?
In the past few days British tennis star Andy Murray has announced his planned retirement from tennis this season. This is due to constant hip pain and his admittance that he had no idea "when the pain was going to stop". His announcement in a recent press conference shocked tennis who didn't know just how much his injuries were plaguing him. But how will he transition away from sport? This article plans to explore his transition and potential barriers to a successful escape from professional sport.
Alongside difficulties in accepting a new lifestyle and a loss in the individual’s identity as a high-level athlete, research has noted career ending injuries can have detrimental effects on an athlete's mental health, with emotions such as grief, anxiety, depression and even suicide. Additionally, research has found athletes can suffer difficulties within physical, social, financial and employment issues as well, as they struggle to adapt to life as a non-athlete. The long-term effects of injury forcing retirement also support these issues beyond the immediate retirement, with life satisfaction of former collegiate athletes being lower when compared to those who hadn’t suffered a career ending injury. Therefore, highlighting the importance of an effective transition for the athlete not just for their psychological wellbeing, but overall quality and satisfaction of life as a whole.
In an attempt to make this transition easier, research has studied athletes who, despite suffering a premature end to their sporting career, have successfully integrated into a non-athletic lifestyle. Stoltenburg’s 2011 study found three key facets which aided the transition:
Having a plan B. Athletes who know their career will end one day, can prepare for that whenever it may come.
Not having control over the decision. This helps because the athlete can have more of an appreciation for life as a whole, and are less focussed on the fact they were unable to play sport.
Strong social support. Using the people around the athlete can ease the transition and help them find stability again.
However, it has been realised that athletes are rarely prepared for this moment, therefore athletes need extra support when forced out of their sport as opposed to voluntarily retiring, and this must be accounted for, when offering support.
Based on the brief review of literature regarding retirement, it is clear injuries forcing a career transition is difficult for athletes to deal with, beyond the physical aspects. Therefore, care must be taken in order to make the transition as easy as possible and help them re-integrate into a non-athletic lifestyle.
Article by Luke Vidler