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What do these 5 former athletes look like after retirement? Mike Tyson got back into shape after online fat-shaming, while Olympic champion Charlene Wittstock transformed into the Princess of Monaco
STORYLynn Farah
- Famous athletes can earn millions from competitions, sponsorships and appearances, enjoying a luxury lifestyle – but the training can be intense, so what happens once they retire?
- Notorious figure skater Tonja Harding inspired the film I, Tonya; while former boxer Naseem Hamed was body-shamed by his brother, but insists he’s ‘the happiest I’ve ever been’
There are plenty of benefits to being a world-class athlete in your prime, from the big pay cheques and luxury lifestyles to the adoring fans. There’s also a packed schedule of training, competitions and sponsorship appearances. Of course, working out and committing to professional sports also does wonders for the physique, so it’s no surprise that top athletes known for being in peak physical condition.
But those ripped and toned bodies start looking a little different once these athletes retire. And what about how they fill their days now they don’t have to train with fervent intensity? Some former athletes are happy to live a quiet life in seclusion, while others move into new careers that keep them in the limelight.
Let’s look at five famous athletes, before and after retirement …
1. Mike Tyson, 57
Sport: boxing
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As one of the world’s most notorious boxing legends, Mike Tyson wasn’t called Iron Mike for nothing. He became the youngest boxer to ever win a heavyweight title at the age of 20, per Britannica – a title he still holds today.
But by the time he retired in 2005, he had a noticeably larger frame, leading to online fat-shaming. He later told Joe Rogan that the shaming is what inspired him to get back into shape. “You say body-shaming hurts some people, it helps me. I never looked at it as fat-shaming,” he told the podcast host.
As well as getting back into fighting shape, Tyson also built a career in entertainment, appearing in films like 2009’s The Hangover and producing the Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast since 2019. He recently confirmed that the podcast will go on hiatus though, as he prepares to get back in the ring in a match-up against Jake Paul.
2. Princess Charlene of Monaco, 46
Sport: swimming
