What do you, Tom Brady and Michael Phelps have in common – 02/17/2023 – Marina Izidro

What are you afraid of? Maybe it comes to mind: dying, getting sick, losing your job. There are those who, by dealing with risks on a daily basis, manage to turn fear into something positive. Years ago, I asked giant wave surfer Eraldo Gueiros if he was afraid to face that wall of ocean on top of a board. He replied that it was and that it was important because it kept him alert. Being aware of the danger made him prepare, to stay alive.

Professional athletes may experience yet another fear. Something most of us don’t have to deal with too soon: retirement. Of course, there are those who leave the sport convinced that they did it at the right time. Even so, the transition is not necessarily smooth. It must be immensely frustrating to stop, in your early thirties, from a career you’ve been intensely dedicated to since you were a child, when body and mind are young. There are countless reports of loss of identity and purpose.

Sport brings a sense of belonging, a support network, athletes are loved. How to deal with this cut overnight? Apart from the financial issue, as ties with clubs and sponsorships end. Cutting your career short due to injury can be even worse if you get the feeling of something unfinished.

While dealing with his chronic hip problem, Andy Murray admitted he had “zero interest” in doing anything outside of tennis. Recently, Serena Williams said she was torn by the decision to leave the court knowing that she can still compete at a high level.

The theme is recurrent and came back a few days ago, when quarterback Tom Brady, 45, announced his retirement a year after leaving the sport for the first time. In a choked voice, he said that he lived a “complete dream”. With seven Super Bowl titles, he is considered by many to be the greatest American football player of all time, was married to Gisele Bündchen, and has already signed a millionaire contract to be a TV commentator. Why be sad? A report by The Atlantic titled “Tom Brady’s Quiet Despair” talks about the emptiness leaving the sport can leave you.

It can be so devastating that many, like Brady, back away from the decision. Michael Phelps retired after the London Games but returned to the pools. In Rio, in 2016, he became the greatest Olympic medalist in history, with 28 podiums.

The great documentary “O Peso do Ouro”, narrated and produced by Phelps, brings testimonials from former athletes, including the swimmer, about mental health, career difficulties and what he calls “post-Olympics depression”. If someone prepares their whole life for just one race, one fight, how can they handle what comes next — when TV cameras are turned off, arenas close and the athlete is suddenly no longer relevant? The emptiness and fear of loss returns.

The documentary deals with retirement and how athletes don’t talk much about their weaknesses. It goes against what they’ve always learned: champions don’t feel pressure or show insecurity to the opponent.

Debating career transition is more common, but there is a lot to evolve. What do sports superheroes and you have in common? It may not even be the bank account, titles, Olympic golds, but something simple and profound at the same time. Like us, they have fears, make decisions, change their minds. As Phelps summarizes: “We are human”.

It’s not fair to underestimate the pain of those who stop doing what they love, no matter how successful they are.

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