I knew an olympic gymnast back in the 1980s. She was a very big deal in our small town--there is still a sign in her neighborhood saying "home of olympic medalist Jane Doe." She moved to her coach's elite training facility a few years before the olympics, so she missed most normal middle school/high school milestones.
She was nice but very, very focused on her sport and unable to make conversation about anything else.
For many years she ran her own gymnastic facility that was named after her. I lost touch with her, but from what I gather from mutual friends, she's happy and successful.

One Olympic swimmer. He didn’t medal but went twice. It’s very much a highlight of his life.

He works as a physical therapist now. Zero involvement in swimming.

A few swimmers I used to train with. Fairly normal people but this was awhile back. Also, my dad waaay back in track and field. He was entirely normal. ; )

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What sport? Did they do well? What was their life like?

Why do you ask, OP?

Just curious! A friend of a friend’s daughter (lol - I truly barely know her) is an Olympian. She is one of the “lucky” ones who is amazing/achieved notoriety but I just wonder what it must be like to grow up with your whole life revolving around elite sport. I know this girl moved out at like 13 or something to train and it’s a very interesting and exclusive life path.

My college had a good gymnastics team so a lot of ex Olympians went there. Mostly nice and normal people—I think the ones who go to college and compete or volunteer coach vs try to go the influencer route tend to be the normal ones who like the team aspects of the sport.

Anonymous wrote:Two Olympic swimmers

One Olympic runner

One Olympic skier


All are functioning adults who are no longer involved in sports at all.

+1

Life long injuries.

Two Olympic swimmers

One Olympic runner

One Olympic skier


All are functioning adults who are no longer involved in sports at all.

Anonymous wrote:What sport? Did they do well? What was their life like?

Why do you ask, OP?

I know a soccer player, they are back playing for a team.

I worked with a guy who medaled in swimming. I think it was a gold, and it was one of the team events. We were both engineering majors, working in manufacturing. Nice guy. He got married around age 25 or 26. I haven't seen him in years, but as far as I know he had a pretty good, ordinary, life back then.

Lots, including 2 Gold Medalists, in equestrian sports. They are all still at it in some capacity (riding, training, teaching, course designing, some or all the above)

Yes - I was an elite gymnast who trained with several girls that made the Olympic teams over several cycles. Many are now married with children and in some instances coaching or have opened their own gyms. Transitioning from being an elite athlete - regardless of if you made it to the Olympics - can be challenging. Especially for our sport where you peak so young. It’s all you have ever known and it makes transitioning to new things hard.

A swimmer (American, but swam for another country) went to law school with my husband and we became friends. She did well in the Olympics, but probably would not have qualified for the American team. She did win one bronze medal.

Her life is pretty objectively privileged, as you would imagine. She dated and fell hard for my roommate and friend while in law school, but the relationship ended painfully for her and we lost touch as she distanced herself from roommate/friend.

She was a cheery and kind person when I knew her. She went to a prestigious law school, was whip smart, and is engaged in a successful law career now.

Yes. A particular Olympic ski team. What do you mean by your last question? Did it make them rich? Did it make them happy? I would say neither - he is a generally laid back bloke, but that is part of why he was drawn to skiing. He was obviously very good at it, trained year round - but when it was over, it was pretty much over.

What sport? Did they do well? What was their life like?