Sports = Life
Last Friday, Lindsey Vonn won her first World Cup race after coming out of a nearly six-year retirement.
Then, last Sunday, NFL quarterback Philip Rivers stepped in to play for the Indianapolis Colts after his five-year retirement.
Many people believe that sports are a metaphor for life—and given these examples, I would argue it’s true, especially when it comes to aging.
In fact, age is a frequently talked-about subject in the sports world, albeit on a much more truncated scale—one where “old age” and/or “aging out” starts in an athlete’s early-to-mid 30’s, and those still active in their 40’s are considered “unicorns.”
Both of these athletes are “unicorns.”
Vonn retired in 2019 due to injuries. Rivers retired in 2021 to spend more time with his family (he has TEN kids!).
But they returned to their respective sports for different reasons.
Vonn still had the urge to compete, and thanks to a partial knee replacement that has left her virtually pain-free—along with a new, modified training regimen—she is regaining both her strength and speed as she aspires to compete in the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina Italy.
Rivers, on the other hand, was enjoying his new life as a high school football coach, husband, and father. However, when the Colts lost their entire quarterback roster to a variety of injuries, they called on Rivers who’d maintained close relationships with both the coaches and the NFL during his retirement.
According to news reports, Rivers returned to the playing field for two reasons:
He still had the skills and desire to play—at least on a limited basis—while the Colts quarterbacks continued to recover from their injuries.
And, perhaps even more important, his re-activation as an NFL player enabled him to receive five additional years of free health insurance coverage for himself—and his ENTIRE family (a benefit that was otherwise due to expire in August 2026).
The fact is as we age throughout adulthood, “stuff” happens—some of which is within our control, others of which are beyond it.
We get sidelined from pursuing our passions for one reason or another. New challenges require us to adapt or change course. New opportunities present themselves when you least expect them.
And the need for more affordable health insurance remains constant.
Regardless, when—or whether—we retire should not be dictated by age. Rather, it should be dictated by ability, desire, and/or need to support ourselves or our families.
Because as goes sports, so goes life. Whether we’re world class athletes—or not.