Life After the Olympics Can be Challenging

The realities of finding a post-retirement path can be harsh.

Michael Phelps talks to the media during his visit to Argentina at El Rosedal Park on December 07, 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
Michael Phelps talks to the media during his visit to Argentina at El Rosedal Park on December 07, 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
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The Atlantic details the troubles Olympians face when they transition away from their athletic careers and into the traditional workforce. Given the hold sports take over competitors’ lives, a lack of time devoted to school, work, and preparation leave many athletes at a loss when they ask what comes after they’re no longer the world’s best athletes. The U.S. Olympic Committee recently launched the Athletic Career Education (ACE) program, aimed at smoothing this transition. ACE has already served 1,700 Olympians with everything from career counseling to specialized training to online degrees, but the program is still relatively small in scope and unable to properly help a large number of Olympians.

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