Life after sports in Seychelles |27 August 2019

Athletes are proud and determined to represent their countries to the best of their abilities.

High level athletes train extensively for years; they spend their youth, often making extensive personal sacrifices in order to pursue their dreams of glory. These may include moving away from family, losing time on their academic studies and sacrificing personal or romantic relationships.

For many athletes, retirement is an idea that they do not wish to think about when they are active. However, whether they have achieved glory or failed to reach the highest level in their sporting careers, it will eventually come a time to put an end to it, whether this is through age, injury or choice.

What happens to Seychelles’ high level athletes when their time comes to an end?

Athletes once they leave the days filled with rigorous training, the extensive time spent travelling and competing abroad, this is the time in their lives where they may be susceptible to depression, identity crises or adjustment problem. Those who have prepared for their retirement go through without many difficulties.

How did athletes cope with the three Selves

Ideal Self – refers to the person you would like to be – it represents your values, your sense of right and wrong. It is what you expect and demand of yourself. How the public/country value your contribution?           

Public Self – is the image you believe others have of you. This may or may not be how the public see you after retirement.

Real Self – the sum of those subjective thoughts, feelings and needs that you see as being the authentic you. This can be constantly changing and people can look at you differently.

You must have confidence in yourself and feel worthy as a person, then you can rebuild your self-esteem.

Social identity

The diversity of athletes’ social identities can affect their adaptation to retirement transition. Researchers associate retirement with a loss of status and social identity. Many athletes define themselves in terms of their popular status, although this recognition is typically shortlived. As a result, retired athletes may question their self worth and feel the need to regain the lost public esteem.

There was a motion in the National Assembly shedding light on the difficulties that Seychellois athletes are facing, especially those who are severely injured and are not qualified for a pension.

Coping strategies

An intervention programme also can be a useful means of facilitating the transition process. A pre-retirement programme is necessary, such programme should emphasise the transferable of skills from sport to new career.

During the course of retirement, athletes are faced with dramatic changes in their personal social and occupational lives. These changes can affect them cognitively, emotionally and behaviourally. The viability of effective coping strategies may facilitate this process and reduce the likelihood of difficulties. Finding another focus of interest to replace their sports participation, keeping busy maintaining their training exercises regiments, talking with someone who listen and staying with their sport and friends are effective strategies for facilitating the transition process.                                              

There are a number of ways that athletes can help to reduce the chances of depression, identity crises or adjustment problem after retirement from sport, these include:

• Reduce your elite recognition with your sporting role and expand your self-identity to other activity.
• Discover interests and competences for other activities beyond sport (perhaps considering coaching or the mentoring of other athletes)
• Acquiring stress management and time management skills (such skills will represent tools that help you better reconcile sport with your other roles).
• Enrol in training programme that at the end of their sports careers they will live a life with dignity.
• Consult a sport psychologist to help explore further avenues and adaptation techniques.

Athletes by nature are mentally tough individuals and are often perceived by the public to be fitter, healthier and happier. It is this attitude and labelling that can make it more difficult for them to approach someone for help. Therefore it is highly important for close family, friends, teammates and coaches to offer their support.

Although we are a small country with a small number of high level athletes, we should start thinking of a programme in preparation for their retirement. The aim is to make the athletes more independent and live a life with dignity after sport. You cannot be role models during your sports career and live an unhealthy life during your retirement.

My contribution is a small drop of water in a big ocean, but after all it is the little drop of water that makes the mighty ocean.

Maurice Denys (Mr)                                                                                                              

Certified Mental Coach (CMC)

S.N.H.S.Dip (Sports Psychology)                                                  

S.N.H.S.Dip (Life coaching)