On 16 October, the Jacobs Futura Foundation launched its groundbreaking report Forged in Competition, Tested in Transition: Empowering Elite Athletes Through and Beyond Sport at a special event that brought together athletes, sports administrators, and industry experts. The report revealed crucial insights into the challenges athletes face when transitioning from competitive sports to life beyond the arena.
Key Findings
The report highlighted several critical issues that athletes encounter after their sporting career ends. With each chapter highlighting four key issues:
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Financial instability
- Identity-related struggles
- The need for future planning
The report, combining landscape analysis, literature review, and athlete testimonies, reveals that support, when provided at the right time, can significantly impact an athlete’s transition experience.
Professor David Lavallee, the world’s first Professor of Duty of Care in Sport, delivered a compelling keynote address which enhanced the evidence he displayed in the report. His research findings underscore the urgency of timely transition support:
- Over 50% of athletes transition out of sport involuntarily, often due to injuries or deselection
- There’s a strong correlation between sports-focused identity and transition difficulties
- Pre-retirement planning has a positive impact on transition quality
Professor Lavallee stressed, “Individuals who are confident and ready to exit [elite sport] experience a smoother career transition.”
Both the report and the event have emphasised that supporting athletes through career transition isn’t just about acknowledging their past contributions to sport, but enabling them to reach their full potential in their lives beyond competition. The transition to life beyond sport can be highly challenging, but this can be addressed through the right support, at the right time.
A Complex Support Landscape
Support services exist through both public bodies and civil society organisations, it identifies significant gaps in the current system, particularly for unfunded athletes. The support ecosystem, while well-intentioned, is often fragmented and difficult for athletes to navigate effectively. This complexity can leave many athletes feeling lost during their transition period.
A great deal of work is being done to support athletes in their transition, but there is a need to sustain, and increase, the support provided by public bodies; there is a valuable role provided by charities and businesses to work in tandem with these organisations to support athletes. However, there is a need for more support overall and for much better co-ordination across this ecosystem.
Athlete Panel: Personal Experiences and Insights
A highlight of the event was the athlete panel, which brought together former elite athletes to share their personal experiences with career transition. These athletes provided invaluable perspectives on the realities of transitioning out of elite sport.
The panel included:
- Henry Cookey, former Taekwondo fighter, Commonwealth Bronze Medallist
- Emily Defroand, former Hockey player, European and Commonwealth Medallist
- Marilyn Okoro, former Track athlete, Olympic Bronze Medallist
The panel was expertly facilitated by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, 11-time Paralympic Gold Medallist, who also shared her own experiences and insights.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, drawing from her own experience and her work in sports governance, provided valuable context and facilitated a rich discussion. She emphasised the systemic changes needed to better support athletes during their careers and in preparation for life after sport.
The panel’s candid discussions reinforced the report’s findings and highlighted the diverse challenges athletes face across different sports. Their stories underscored the positive impact that timely and targeted support can have on an athlete’s transition journey, while also pointing out areas where the support system can be improved.
Looking Forward
The launch event sparked important conversations about the future of athlete support in the United Kingdom. The report makes clear that while progress has been made in recognising the importance of transition support, there is still significant work to be done to ensure all athletes can thrive after their sporting careers end.
The event concluded with a call for engagement from all stakeholders in the sports community. By working together, we can create a more effective, coordinated, and coherent support ecosystem that delivers impactful assistance to athletes at crucial transition points. JFF is proud to be working alongside sporting organisations and funding crucial charity purposes to continue to enhance and advertise the provisions available to support athletes.
All athletes deserve the support they need to reach their full potential after – not just during – their sporting careers.
For those interested in learning more about the findings and recommendations, the full report Forged in Competition, Tested in Transition is now available through the Jacobs Futura Foundation website.
We would again like to take this time to thank Portas Consulting, Steve Mitchell, Professor Lavallee and all of the athletes who shared their stories with us.
