Life after sport for professional athletes
This year alone, we have witnessed the struggles that retired professional athletes have faced after their extravagant sporting careers conclude.
In February, the Australian sporting world was shocked to learn of the death of former Wallabies player Dan Vickerman and in the same month, Australian swimming legend Grant Hackett was arrested due to a disturbance. Hackett sought help for mental health issues after the incident.
This week, the NRL has been embroiled in a drug scandal, with multiple players and members of the community being charged with the possession and consumption of drugs. This does point to the broad question of why professional athletes struggle to transition into life after sport and what steps must be taken to address an issue, that is taking a toll on some of Australia’s greatest athletes.
Myles Houlbrook-Walk spoke with Associate Professor of Management from Curtin University, Julia Richardson.
