When sports come to an end, athletes stand at a crossroads and must decide what comes next. Leaving sports can feel like the end of an era, but for many athletes, it can also be the beginning of a new chapter. Let’s explore the career paths of top gymnasts after their retirement.
One post-athletics career move that’s often overlooked is actually remaining an athlete, just in a different competitive field. For instance, Amy Chow, who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, transitioned from gymnastics to the 10 meter platform dive and the pole vault after her Olympic career. Shang Chunsong, a Chinese bronze medalist from Rio 2016, is now the 2024 Parkour Freestyle World Champion. In our very own NESCAC, Williams College pole vaulter Aidan Casey was previously a member of the U.S. Trampoline & Tumbling National Junior Team.
Another avenue many choose is moving into sports-based entertainment. Cirque du Soleil famously recruits former elite and collegiate athletes — and by the way Cirque, I am looking for a job following graduation. One notable gymnast who took this route is Trent Wells, a former U.S. national champion on both the parallel bars and high bars known for his unique shoulder flexibility. 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Raj Bhavsar also joined Cirque du Soleil. Yvonne Tousek, a two time Olympian from Canada known for her eponymous transverse back handspring on beam, was a Cirque acrobat for 11 years and is now a talent scout. Additionally, many gymnasts, especially those from the University of California Los Angeles, find work as stunt doubles due to their proximity to Hollywood, Gracie Kramer being a recent example.
After retiring from elite sports, many athletes pursue careers as coaches or judges. 2012 Olympic gold medalists Jordyn Wieber and Kyla Ross are currently coaching at the University of Arkansas. Kristie Phillips, famous for her eponymous beam mount, transitioned from being an elite gymnast to a judge for the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique. There are countless gyms owned by former gymnasts, but one of the most notable is World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, run by 1988 Olympic gold medalist Valeri Liukin and his longtime friend Yevgeny Marchenko, a former World champion acrobatic gymnast. Other notable gym owners include Amanda Borden and Dominique Moceanu of the Magnificent Seven, along with 1992 Olympic all-around champion Tatiana Gutsu of Ukraine.
Historically, many commentating positions have been filled by former Olympic gymnasts. For years, 1984 gold medalist Tim Daggett was NBC’s main gymnastics commentator, and his Olympic teammate, Bart Conner, now commentates as well. Kathy Johnson of the 1984 Olympics was often Conner’s commentating partner and was known for her excellent work. 2008 Olympians Nastia Liukin, Samantha Peszek and Bridget Sloan all became commentators, and more recently, 2016 Olympian Laurie Hernandez joined the broadcasting team. Another growing trend is gymnasts creating gymnastics-related content on social media, such asformer Stanford gymnast Ian Gunther. Some gymnasts even transition into acting, producing some crazy but undeniably entertaining movies. Mitch Gaylord, a 1984 Olympic teammate of Conner and Daggett, starred in “American Anthem,” which includes an unforgettable scene of high bar training in the forest. 1976 Olympian Kurt Thomas also made his mark, starring in “Gymkata,” a film where gymnastics meets martial arts.
Finally, many gymnasts choose to leave sports behind and apply the skills they’ve honed in new fields. This path is a very real and rewarding option. USA Gymnastics once used the slogan “Begin Here. Go Anywhere,” and for many gymnasts, that’s been the case. Tasha Sweikert has made a name for herself as a brilliant lawyer — definitely check out her career. After the 1996 Olympics, Kerri Strug earned a master’s degree in social psychology at Stanford, became an elementary school teacher and now works with high-risk youths. Chow went on to become a pediatrician, and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Madison Kocian recently graduated from Baylor College of Medicine, studying to be a physician assistant.
