OOTJ - Where Are They Now?

Even the greatest athletes can face challenges in the business world that they never expected. We look at some stars who made the transition.

By Peter Lauria

They are high performers. They have strong work ethics. And they excel under pressure. What else could a firm ask for in a leader or staff member? And yet, Olympic athletes and their coaches will tell you that the transition from sports to business can be as hard as, well, winning a medal. Of the 10,500 athletes competing in the Paris Games, only a small fraction will earn enough to make a living from sponsorships and endorsements. “To get a job, most have to fall back on their degrees, or for the youngest ones, go get degrees,” says Matthew Robinson, a professor of sport management at the University of Delaware who works closely with Olympic coaches and athletes. Even then, it isn’t easy: Not unlike military veterans seeking jobs following service, Olympic athletes often find that some traits they’ve previously needed to excel can work against them with hiring managers. Studies have shown, for instance, that ex-veterans can be seen as rigid, process oriented, and hierarchical, traits also common in elite athletes. But by far the biggest issue, says Robinson, is that athletes struggle with applying the lessons and skills they learned in sports to the business world. But it’s not as if some don’t find winning ways. We did a little digging to uncover some inspiring examples of Games competitors who went on to succeed in business. While many used their fame to launch sports brands or become TV commentators, others have had careers in financial services, travel and leisure, and real estate. Some have even become CEOs or board members. Here are a few names you may remember:

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Allyson Felix USA, Track and Field

One of the world’s most accomplished female sprinters, Felix won 11 medals, including seven golds, in five Games. After retiring from running in 2022, she kept moving fast—in business, where she launched the lifestyle and footwear brand Saysh, which raised $8 million in Series A funding, primarily from women-led investor groups. Guided by her strong advocacy of equality in sports, Felix’s firm makes sneakers specifically designed for women, and even provides a free pair to customers whose foot size changes during pregnancy.

Snaring Medals... And Then, Consulting?

Coe ranks as one of the most dominant middle-distance runners of his time, setting multiple world records in the 800-meter, 1500-meter, and mile races. The winner of two gold and two silver medals, he has also had one of the most successful post-competition careers of any athlete. He served as a member of Parliament for five years, chaired the organizing committee for the 2012 Games, owns a chain of health clubs, and ran two successful sports marketing agencies before selling both.

Lord Sebastian Coe Great Britain, Track and Field

Known as China’s “Little Prince of Gymnastics,” Ning won six medals—including golds in the rings, floor exercises, and pommel horse—for China’s gymnastics team during the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. He competed but did not medal in the 1988 Games in Seoul. Following his gymnastics career, Ning started an eponymous athletic apparel and shoe company that generates more than $1 billion dollars in revenue annually.

Li Ning China, Gymnastics

Though Phelps officially retired in 2016, his Olympic dominance still looms large. He ranks as the most decorated competitor—not just swimmer—in history with 28 total medals, 23 of them gold. Out of the pool, Phelps has spoken openly about mental-health issues, particularly his own battles with depression. His advocacy helped him land a seat on the board of Medibio, a company focused on detecting and screening mental-health disorders, and led to his becoming an investor in the therapy app Talkspace. Last year, Phelps invested in a new $125 million venture-capital fund focusing on early-stage tech startups.

Michael Phelps USA, Swimming

Regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time Bolt currently holds world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter races. He is the only sprinter ever to win gold medals in those two events at three straight Games. In addition to earning endorsements and sponsorships valued in the tens of millions of dollars, Bolt has become an entrepreneur as the owner of a chain of successful restaurants in his native Jamaica, founder of a shaving company, and real-estate developer. One of his most high-profile ventures, an e-scooter transportation company, went bust in 2022.

Usain Bolt Jamaica, Track and Field

At the Montreal Games nearly 50 years ago, in 1976, Zimmerman (then Englert) became the first US woman to score a perfect 10 on a floor-exercise routine. Though she didn’t medal, her perfect score is considered a breakthrough moment for US female gymnasts on the world stage. In her post-athletic career, Zimmerman has been creating breakthrough moments as CEO and co-founder of advertising and public-relations firm The Zimmerman Agency. Serving clients in the hospitality and travel industry, The Zimmerman Agency reportedly generates annual revenue of around $30 million and is part of global advertising giant Omnicom Group.

Carrie Englert Zimmerman USA, Gymnastics

Image of Allyson Felix with American flag

2012

Image of Lord Sebastian Coe running track in 1960

1984

Image of Li Ning on the gymnastic rings in 1974

1984

2008

Arguably the most celebrated past or present US track star, Lewis broke out at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, where he won four gold medals. Known as a sprinter, he is one of only six athletes ever to win the same individual event—in his case, the long jump—in four straight Games. In addition to numerous endorsement deals, Lewis went on to appear in several movies and television shows during the 80s and early 2000s. Since then, he has stepped away from the spotlight and returned to the track. After eight years as an assistant, he is entering his second season as head coach of the track and field program at the University of Houston.

Carl Lewis USA, Track and Field

1984

1976

2008

Image of a person walking over a large clock on the ground

Image of a digital person leaping through the air

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Home

The (Tough) Economics of the Games Winning It All—After Hours The Competitive Spirit

Post Game-Day

Winning...with a Work-Life Balance? Eye for a Star Know Thyself

Leadership at the Top

Where Are They Now? Snaring Medals...And Then, Consulting? The Home Office, with Trophies in the Closet

World-Class Athletes on the Job

Every Four Years: The Challenge of Staying Long-Term