Taking a risk in 2018
It’s that time of year when people are thinking about their hopes and dreams for the year ahead. Even if you don’t believe in making New Year’s Resolutions, chances are you’ve been thinking about how you might want your year to go. Perhaps you have been thinking about making some changes. Maybe 2018 will be the year when you take a risk and try something new.
At the end of 2017, I qualified as a fitness instructor. I am looking at pursuing a secondary career in sport (alongside my day job). It would be great to do it full time, but I love my current job and it feels like too much of a risk for me at this stage in my life. One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to qualify as a Personal Trainer this year.
I thought it would be appropriate to have a look at some of the athletes who have made risky career movies (often with a significant pay decrease).
View Interactive Version
(via SBO.net).
- Victoria Pendleton, a multiple track sprint Olympic and World Champion between 1989 to 2012, wandering into horse riding, cashing up to £200,000 per race.
- Adam Gemili found his fame on the football pitch until 2012 when he transferred from the field to the Athletics track, representing Team GB in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
- In 2009, the All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams started leaning more towards heavyweight boxing, successfully winning all seven of his competitive fights, while still actively playing on the rugby field.
- Rebecca Romero became the first-ever British woman to compete in two sports at the Olympics Games. She decided to make the move to cycling after winning a silver medal for rowing in the 2006 Olympics. She went on to take home the gold for individual pursuit in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
- Martina Hingis, 5 Grand Slam single title-winner, took a break from the professional tennis world at just 22. This was because she wanted to compete in equestrian competitions. She later returned to the court in 2005.
Other sporting heavyweights have decided to downsize when making a move. This proves that the pay cheque isn’t always the deciding influence. Michael Jordan, six-time NBA champion and five-time NBA MVP, decided to take a break from basketball in 1993. He moved into baseball, despite lowering his earnings to $850 a month plus $16 daily meal allowances. He made a comeback to basketball in 1995 but has since retired.
After retiring from cricket, Adam Hollioake transferred to MMA fighting in 2012. He left behind his average salary of £50,000 a year. In his new career, he has claimed no earnings to date.
From Jordan’s slam-dunks to home runs, Sonny Bill’s tries to knockouts or Martina’s backswing to jump combinations, check out the full infographic here from SBO.net to see which other careers sporting stars have attempted.
Do your New Year’s Resolutions involve trying something new in 2018?
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