The retirement transition is complex and can require significant psychological, social, and vocational adjustment for elite athletes. Having a dual career (DC) enables athletes to pursue alternate educational/vocational interests while competing. Currently, the relationship between having a DC and coping with retirement for elite athletes is unclear. This study examines the retirement transition experiences of 16 New Zealand elite athletes who pursued DCs during their sporting careers. Framed by an interpretive qualitative approach and guided by the Holistic Athletic Career model, semi-structured interviews were utilised to explore athletes` retirement transition experiences across the athletic, psychological, psychosocial, academic/vocational, and financial levels. Reflexive Thematic Analysis revealed that athletes` retirements were heavily influenced by their DCs. Specifically, DCs were linked to additional reasons to retire, reduced athletic identity, and post-retirement vocational opportunities that provided financial security. Sport-related social relationships were what athletes missed most about their sporting career, with DCs found to provide minimal support. Emotional distress led to some early retirement struggles; however, identity diversification and career development from having a DC helped athletes to overcome this and all athletes transitioned successfully to retirement. The findings highlight that DCs positively influence holistic athlete well-being in addition to academic/vocational development. However, the study brought to light the need for DC assistance programmes to offer strategies such as peer mentoring to help athletes develop alternate social networks.
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