Lately, I’ve been hearing stories from recently retired athletes who, for the first time in their lives, are not suiting up, heading to practices, or scheduling their days around their sport. For years, their lives were structured by training, competition, and team commitments. And now, without that anchor, they’re experiencing a wide range of emotions around the loss of their sport.
Many of you share memories like, “I don’t know what fills that space anymore…” or “I miss being known as ‘the soccer player.’” It’s deeply human, and so important to name.
We current and former athletes understand: Being an athlete often becomes more than what you do, it becomes who you are. The early mornings, team rituals, shared highs and lows build identity in ways nothing else can. But when that chapter ends — whether through graduation, injury, or retirement — the question arises: “Who am I without my sport?”
The Challenge of Athlete Identity Loss
Athletes often experience what psychologists call identity foreclosure: when one role (athlete) becomes so central that other parts of self get overshadowed.
When the jersey comes off, common feelings include:
- Loss of purpose — “If I’m not training or competing, what am I here for?”
- Disconnection — teammates disperse, routines vanish, structure dissolves.
- Grief — because the loss of sport is real, even if others don’t always understand.
Yet, alongside the pain, there’s an open doorway to something new: rediscovering who you are beyond results and rituals.
Athletes Reinventing Themselves
Transitions like these can feel isolating — yet you’re not alone. Many athletes have ventured into entirely new fields with remarkable grace and success:
- Bernie Williams, the beloved Yankees outfielder, became a celebrated jazz guitarist and composer studying at the Manhattan School of Music: “Bernie Williams Q&A: Why retirement has been more meaningful than Yankees career – Andscape.”
- Jordan Chiles, recent Olympic gymnast, is exploring real estate (and even performing), expressing a clear intention to define herself beyond the gym “Jordan Chiles Eyes a Jump Into Real Estate” – Architectural Digest.
- Jason Brown shifted from a top NFL center to founding a charitable farm; the rhythm of planting became another way of service: “From Field to Farm: the US Pro Athletes Trying Their Hand at Agriculture – The Guardian.”
And I’ve heard it firsthand through Hahnacity stories: guests who poured their competitive drive into school and profession. “The same mentality I had when I was competing and training is the same mentality that I use in tackling work projects and goals.” The arena may be different, but the heart remains the same.
Shifting From Active to Former Competitive Status
Here are a few gentle ways to begin this exploration:
1. Honor the Loss
Give yourself permission to grieve the structure and identity sport provided. Missing your sport doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human.
2. Identify Transferable Strengths
Ask: “What parts of me that thrived in sport can now fuel this new path?” Discipline, focus, perseverance—they all travel with you.
3. Re-Engage Interests
What did you love before sport? Music, mentoring, design, advocacy? Invite those interests back in, little by little.
4. Reconnect With Community
Lose a team, find a tribe. Alumni networks, clubs, co-working spaces, or interest groups. Connection helps ground change.
For Coaches & Parents: Guiding Transition
If you support athletes, remember: retirement doesn’t mean goodbye. Transition can feel as big as injury.
Supportive steps you can take:
- Normalize the difficulty they are going through: “It makes sense this feels disorienting.”
- Highlight their strengths: Reinforce that athletic skills are portable.
- Encourage their curiosity: Invite exploration before the transition becomes urgent.
- Stay connected with them: Check in even after the season ends and long after. It matters.
A New Chapter, Not the End of the Story
The end of athletic competition is not the end of your worth or your story. It’s expansion in motion!
When the jersey comes off, your values, resilience, creativity, and heart remain. Ask yourself:
“Who am I becoming — beyond the game?”
Stay Connected
If you’re an athlete navigating identity shifts, life after sport, or big transitions, I’d love to walk alongside you. Learn more at lcollinslcsw.com, or subscribe to Athlete Illuminated for weekly reflections and support.
In solidarity,
Laura
Reflection Prompts
Take a few minutes after practice, a game, or even during a quiet moment to reflect:
- What parts of myself feel strongest outside of sport?
- What qualities from my athletic life do I want to carry forward?
- Where am I curious to explore next?
Note: This and every Athlete Illuminated post is for educational purposes only and not a replacement for mental health treatment. If you are in urgent need of mental health support, please call 9-8-8. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. For ongoing mental health concerns, consider seeking professional support or therapy.
The Athlete Psychotherapist 
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