State of Sport 2018: Half of retired sportspeople have concerns over mental and emotional wellbeing

Retired athletes also told the BBC they "lose their identity" when they finish playing sport, experiencing "loss", "regret" and "devastation"....
...."It is not unusual to hear players speak about feelings of mourning and grief when they retire," says Simon Taylor, chief executive of the PPF.

"Transition from professional sport can be a daunting prospect. The fact that retirement for sportsmen and women normally happens in their 30s only compounds the problems."....

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Bethany`s Notes: Retirement after professional sports it challenging and the British sport organization is getting some feedback from former elite athletes. This article gives many examples of former elite athletes and how their loss of identity has changed them. A great read!