Many times, athletes are driven into a narrative where their sports takes over everything, even to harm their health as well as rid them of future happiness. Andy Murray’s recent press conference while at the Australian Open, from where he made public his retirement plans; highlights two important things.
Retirement A Painful Process But Necessary
Andy pointed to the pain he had had to live with for about 20 months and further explained how he had initially planned to call it a day in the game after Wimbledon this summer but he is no longer sure he can make it that far. He even paused for a while; you know that lump that comes in the threat before breaking the hard news. He took the long pause before uttering the difficult words ‘stop playing’.
The first question that comes to mind is: “Why not retire sooner?” It is difficult to get why anyone would subject themselves to immense suffering for a long time as Andy did. This is despite full knowledge that overusing his body would haunt him for the remaining period in life.
Why wouldn’t he stop before? For online gaming and betting lovers like the ones at qqpokeronline.me would not be happy with such thoughts. But the second important thought that comes to mind is whether he is still going to be okay after retiring.
The Fans Effect
While following the various tweets that followed Andy Murray’s retirement plan announcement, there was one major regret from tennis celebrities. “Sorry Andy, you can’t retire on your own terms.” While retirement is often considered a difficult process for top athletes, research has also confirmed that retirement caused by injuries is even tougher. Usually, the athlete is compelled to abandon their life not because they don’t have motivation but due to their body having given up.
The Contention
One of the bones of contentions is whether there is any other way to circumvent this ultimate end. Is it okay to just come to terms with the fact that elite sport is detrimental to the body? And this is not even in the long-term but in the short term. Like the majority of retiring athletes, Andy is just in his early thirties, a prime age for the game. The unfortunate thing is that his entire career has been marked by painful injuries. But what is this that can make it okay to live with severe pain for 20 months and still keep playing?
Culture of Risk
According to sociologists in the sports industry, they opine that professional sport is often dominated by the culture of risk. This is the ethical value of sacrifice, rejecting limits, taking chances, striving for greatness and playing through the most unimaginable pain. All these are considered normal and oftentimes the risks are glorified. But it’s a good idea that Andy Murray has given in to the pressure from his body. So for those of us who would place our stakes on Andy’s games at qqpokeronline.me, it’s time to come to terms that it’s over with his sporting career.
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