It is rare for athletes to get a fairytale ending. To walk away from the sport at the top of one’s game, with a premiership trophy or a gold medal in hand is the dream for every sportsperson, but in reality those stories are few and far between.
While some must be satisfied with a middle-of-the-table finish and a tribute on grand final day, the most difficult retirements are those that are not on the athlete’s own terms. It isn’t uncommon to see players with a few professional caps succumb to an injury or fail to have their contract renewed, but it is most jarring when it happens to a player who has reached the highest levels of their sport. It doesn’t fit the narrative, it’s not a neat ending to a career that we can tie a bow on and reminisce about at pubs and barbecues for years to come.
