Carly Lloyd, a legendary US soccer player, reflects on her retirement after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the emotional experience of her last game. Carly discusses the importance of dictating her own ending and the heartbreak of not achieving her desired storybook ending. She shares her transition into a new chapter in her life, embracing being a 'normal, everyday human.' Carly finds meaning in new business ventures, media work, and spending time with her husband. She also explores the challenge of finding motivation for working out after retiring from sports.
Dawn Burrell's Journey from Athlete to Chef
Dawn Burrell, former world champion long jumper and now a chef, shares her experience transitioning from the high level of athletics to a new career. Dawn discusses the difficulties she faced after the end of her competitive athletic career and the need to find something new to love. She highlights the importance of embracing the process of growth and learning, as well as the power of challenging one's internal dialogue and redefining success. Dawn also shares her continued passion for athleticism and the possibility of returning to long jump in the future.
The Perspective of Gerontologist Tracy Gendron
Gerontologist Tracy Gendron challenges society's negative perception of aging and emphasizes the simultaneous loss and growth that come with getting older. She encourages individuals to focus on future-oriented questions and see aging as an opportunity for personal growth and self-reflection. Tracy also highlights the mind-body connection and the importance of challenging negative attitudes about aging to promote better health and well-being.
Finding Meaning in Loss and Evolution
The podcast explores the concept of finding meaning in loss and embracing evolution as we age. It emphasizes the importance of setting new goals, challenging oneself, and reframing success in different phases of life. The episode showcases that evolving can involve pursuing new interests, adjusting expectations, or finding alternative ways to continue competing or staying active. Overall, it encourages listeners to view aging as a unique and valuable journey.
Competitive sports give athletes structure, community and purpose. And an outlet for their passion. So what happens when, because of injury or age, they can’t play anymore? Does the competitive drive find a new home? Or get slowly extinguished? Jody talks to aging expert Tracey Gendron, Olympian, turned chef, Dawn Burrell, and soccer legend Carli Lloyd about finding grace and direction when closing a chapter. Transcripts for Good Sport are available at go.ted.com/GStranscripts
