Life After Sport
The USOPC recognizes that behind each Team USA Athlete is a person with hopes, goals, and dreams that are as intense and real as the ones you have for the field of play. You are unique individuals with unique aspirations that go beyond sport and we want to see you succeed on whatever path you decide to take next. We offer a variety of resources that are designed to help you take that next step towards the passions that lie ahead in your life after sport.
After 6 years of struggling alone, I finally opened the Team USA Athlete update email and discovered a wealth of resources, programs, and support services that I wish I had known about sooner.
2016 Olympian, 2022 Pivot Participant
Retirement and what that means for you.#
Retiring from Team USA means that an athlete has decided to end their career in competitive sports at the national or international level. This decision is a personal choice, or a desire to pursue other interests or career opportunities. While retirement can come about for a variety of individual reasons, we know that this change can often bring up a lot of uncertainty and questions. Your time in sport might be coming to an end but you are also joining a strong community of other Team USA alumni.
Helpful Resources for You in This Time#
Pivot Program
Register on Agora, opens in a new tabAthletes retiring from sport often feel an acute sense of loss and may have questions about what comes next. It can be a stressful time of navigating your changing identity, community, direction, and purpose. The Pivot Program is a four-day in-person, personal development experience designed to equip you with the skills that you need to navigate this change. At this retreat-style program, you will have the opportunity to connect with other Team USA athletes and spend time in meaningful discussions around transition.
2024 Dates: December 12 - 15, 2024
Registration Deadline: October 11, 2024
Guild Educational Platform
Learn More on Agora, opens in a new tabA new educational resource to provide Team USA athletes with access to tuition-free or reduced cost degree and certification programs through accredited institutions.
1 on 1 Career Coaching
Learn More on Agora, opens in a new tabThree-month, 1-on-1 career coaching program to help athletes identify their strengths and ideal work environments, streamlining their job and career searches.
1 on 1 Financial Coaching
Learn More on Agora, opens in a new tab1:1 financial coaching to help Team USA athletes achieve financial stability and success through personalized budgeting, saving, investing, and financial planning guidance.
Tuck Programming
Retired and active Team USA athletes can take advantage of programming through the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. These programs include the Next Step: Transition to Business and Impact Academy, both designed to support you as you transition into your next career.
Seeking Mental Health Support?#
You're never alone. Whether facing the intensity of competition or adjusting to life changes, the USOPC Psychological Services team supports Team USA athletes across the psychological spectrum by providing internal and external resources that range from mental health to mental performance and everything in between.
For any questions:
Email: psychservices@usopc.org
Call: Psychological Services Support Line: +1 (719) 866-CALL (2255)
Emergencies:
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency,
please call: 9-8-8 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Stay involved with Team USA#
Team USA Athletes' Commission
Learn MoreThe Team USA Athletes' Commission (Team USA AC) advocates for and amplifies the voice of Team USA athletes, ensuring their concerns and interests are heard at the highest levels of sport governance. We work to protect athlete rights, improve access to resources, and drive policy changes that enhance athletes’ well-being on and off the field. Team USA AC actively engages with the USOPC and key stakeholders to ensure athletes are represented in decisions directly impacting athletes.
Team USA AC is composed of representatives from each National Governing Body (NGB) participating in the Olympic, Paralympic, Parapan American and Pan American Games, Paralympic sport representatives, and Ex-Officio Members from the IOC Athletes’ Commission and IPC Athletes’ Commission. The group is led by six at-large athletes elected by the AC. Together, we empower athletes and serve as a catalyst for positive change in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
Insights from Retired Athletes now involved in Athlete Representation:
"Being a part of Team USA AC has allowed me to have 'the Games experience' before and after competing. Everyone on the commission comes from another sport. I feel I’m always learning something new while advocating and improving the conditions for athletes just like me."
– Mark Ladwig, Chair Team USA AC
"Being on the Team USA AC has been a fantastic way to stay involved in sport after retiring. Athletes have so much to contribute to sport off the field of play. I’ve always tried to leave places better than when I found them, and the Team USA AC—or an NGB’s AAC—is a great place to do that."
– Greta Neimanas, At-Large Team USA AC Leadership
United States Olympians & Paralympians Association (USOPA)
The U.S. Olympians & Paralympians Association (USOPA) is an alumni group within the USOPC consisting of athletes who have represented Team USA in an Olympic or Paralympic Games. USOPA exists to ensure that all U.S. Olympians & Paralympians experience a lifelong connection to the Olympic & Paralympic movements by prioritizing engagement and service to build community and connectivity to Team USA. To learn more about USOPA, click here
USOPA Chapters
USOPA is supported by a network of nationwide chapter presidents who organize local groups of Olympians & Paralympians through meetings, social events, and volunteer opportunities. Olympians & Paralympians can connect with fellow USOPA members living in their region by joining their local USOPA chapter. To find a chapter near you, click here or email usopa.mailbox@usopc.org
Am I Eligible for these Resources?
The USOPC developed the Team USA Athlete Benefits Model, inclusive of defining who is a Team USA athlete, to establish transparent eligibility criteria and a consistent process that outlines which USOPC wellness resources athletes are eligible to receive and when, including through retirement. Athlete performance resources will continue to be allocated through the criteria set forth in the high performance plans in partnership with each NGB.