The Retirement Thread

[aaronk]

Marcin Lewandowski announced his retirement!
Powell beat me to it!
With a lot more detail!
LOL

[Powell]

Marcin Lewandowski announced his retirement today. He originally planned to compete this year, but following his daughter's accident and surgery (which was also the reason for his withdrawing from the WI) he decided to stay home instead of doing warm-weather training and has now concluded he wasn't in the sort of shape to be internationally competitive.

[18.99s]

Unfortunately, there's no perfect way to retire. But when I see athletes competing well past their prime, I always remember this is their job/career. Most track athletes aren't in a position to just quit and move on to something else. If they are making money and able, why stop?

That's the thing. Athletes past their prime who haven't earned and invested enough during their athletic career to completely retire from working have a valid financial incentive for continuing to compete while they're still making more money in the sport than whatever other job they'd likely be able to get outside the sport. Eventually their sports earnings decline to the point where they'd be better off financially by delivering pizzas, then they retire.

[ATK]

Yea Crawford just ignored it and got dinged, which as 58 noted, makes sense.

I don't know if Merritt has "officially retired", paperwork and all, but after the Olympic trials last year he did post this on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQW9fSxj8Rg/

"My 400m Olympic Cycle Is Over. I’ve Enjoyed And Will Be Passing The 400 Torch And Olympic Wisdom To Some Young Guns Soon To Represent The United States At The Games 2021. Ive Appreciated All The Love And Support!!!"

Unfortunately, there's no perfect way to retire. But when I see athletes competing well past their prime, I always remember this is their job/career. Most track athletes aren't in a position to just quit and move on to something else. If they are making money and able, why stop?

[18.99s]

So using Merritt as an example, this would mean that even though he is not running competitively, he is still putting up with the headaches and inconvenience of ongoing drug testing?

The opposite in Crawford's case -- he just ignored the requirements for testing, until eventually that resulted in 3 missed tests.

[58Commander]

I didnt realize that you had to file retirement papers but it makes perfect sense. So using Merritt as an example, this would mean that even though he is not running competitively, he is still putting up with the headaches and inconvenience of ongoing drug testing?

By the way, the last part of that article was a great anecdote about Shawn Crawford giving up his medal to Churandi Martina in that 200 OLY final who was disqualified for running outside his lane. Class act!

[Atticus]

He was dinged for missed tests, after having "retired" without filing the official retirement paperwork.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2013/04/19/shawn-crawford-suspended-drug-testing/2097035/

[18.99s]

I don't recall ever hearing that before.

He was dinged for missed tests, after having "retired" without filing the official retirement paperwork.

[gh]

Tell that to Shawn Crawford who tried to just fade away quietly (7th place at 2012 Olympic Trials final so still one of the best in the world), but the IAAF forced him to go out with a huge announcement.

I don't recall ever hearing that before.

[18.99s]

Tell that to Shawn Crawford who tried to just fade away quietly (7th place at 2012 Olympic Trials final so still one of the best in the world), but the IAAF forced him to go out with a huge announcement.

They don't "try" to fade away quietly. Fading away happens to them when they don't proactively retire on their own terms. And the fading may or may not be quiet depending on the circumstances.

[ATK]

I think athletes who fade away like that haven't come to terms with the prospect of actual retirement. They keep thinking they still got it, until they experience an extended period of not getting invited to major professional meets (for the money they're used to getting), or a series of injuries keeps them out of competition until they're forced to accept retirement as a reality.

I agree with you. and by the time they wake up and realize their career is over, they are semi forgotten and not especially relevant to the current fanbase. I think there is a window of opportunity (2-4 years?) at the end of ones career to say thanks and goodbye to the fans then sit back and enjoy the well deserved praise that comes your way.

Tell that to Shawn Crawford who tried to just fade away quietly (7th place at 2012 Olympic Trials final so still one of the best in the world), but the IAAF forced him to go out with a huge announcement.

[58Commander]

I think athletes who fade away like that haven't come to terms with the prospect of actual retirement. They keep thinking they still got it, until they experience an extended period of not getting invited to major professional meets (for the money they're used to getting), or a series of injuries keeps them out of competition until they're forced to accept retirement as a reality.

I agree with you. and by the time they wake up and realize their career is over, they are semi forgotten and not especially relevant to the current fanbase. I think there is a window of opportunity (2-4 years?) at the end of ones career to say thanks and goodbye to the fans then sit back and enjoy the well deserved praise that comes your way.

[18.99s]

Not a "retirement", but more of a comment on retirements. I wish some athletes would announce their retirements instead of just fading away. Lashawn Merritt comes to mind who is one of my favorite runners that doesnt compete much anymore and for all intents and purposes is done with competitive racing. He deserves a sendoff of some kind like Bolt and AFelix. Just call it a day Lashawna and let us all celebrate that great career.

I think athletes who fade away like that haven't come to terms with the prospect of actual retirement. They keep thinking they still got it, until they experience an extended period of not getting invited to major professional meets (for the money they're used to getting), or a series of injuries keeps them out of competition until they're forced to accept retirement as a reality.

[58Commander]

Not a "retirement", but more of a comment on retirements. I wish some athletes would announce their retirements instead of just fading away. Lashawn Merritt comes to mind who is one of my favorite runners that doesnt compete much anymore and for all intents and purposes is done with competitive racing. He deserves a sendoff of some kind like Bolt and AFelix. Just call it a day Lashawna and let us all celebrate that great career.

[aaronk]

Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic has retired at age 35 to have a baby!
She said she's pregnant, or rather the tweet, as translated, said "her friend Marek is expecting a baby"!!
It had a link to an article about it, and that said "He and his friend Mark are expecting a descendant"!!!
Whatever the case, she had a great career!!
LOL