With a Super Bowl hero retiring as an NFL quarterback and a longtime defensive back calling it quits, athlete retirement news has been in the spotlight recently. However, retirement isn’t just for those at the top of their sport; many athletes retire in their 30s or 40s and must quickly learn how to reframe their identity without the perks of professional athletics.

Like a training plan, proper financial planning is key for an athlete to successfully make the transition to retirement. Many retired athletes start second careers in business or coaching and often find a way to stay involved with their sport through philanthropy, public speaking or mentoring young athletes. Others may use their celebrity to endorse products, including big-name NBA players such as Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan.

Those who competed in two Olympic games will be eligible for the new support program based on the $100 million “anchor funding gift” from Stevens. The first athletes to receive the benefits are Frank Molinaro, who finished fifth in the 2016 Olympics, and middle-distance runner Laura Weightman.

Athletes who retire early face challenges that are not faced by the general population, such as finding their identity outside of their sport and balancing family life with work commitments. They are often pressured to continue competing until they’re deemed ready to leave, and that can cause them to struggle in their transition to retirement. A recent scoping review by Dr Cavallerio found that these transitions are influenced by how athletes are prepared and supported for retirement. Those who were confident enough to be going forward, or those who didn’t remain entangled in their former life, experienced positive outcomes.