國游泳運動員邁克爾·菲爾普斯已成為史上贏得奧運會獎牌最多的運動員。他在2016年夏季奧運會上奪得六枚金牌，獎牌總數增至28枚（其中包括23金牌，同樣創下紀錄）。

31歲的菲爾普斯堅稱今年是他最后一次參加奧運會，這已是他第五次出戰。對菲爾普斯來說，退役意味著職業道路將迎來轉變，但并不意味著此后的人生就是安逸享樂。無數前輩的實例證明，競技體育從業者的退役往往意味著職業生涯翻開新篇章，可能會留在體育圈，也有可能轉投截然不同的領域。

有些運動員改換職業道路是為了實現自我價值，也有些是為了提升收入。并不是所有奧運健兒都能在賽場外同樣成功。

言歸正傳，邁克爾·菲爾普斯退役后可能考慮以下五個職業。

1.演講

要在國際大賽上出類拔萃，首先就要抗壓。能在壓力下發揮水平在其他領域一樣重要。許多奧運獎牌得主退役后轉型為勵志演講者，激發人們在自己的領域爭優創先。前無舵雪橇選手魯本·岡薩雷斯退役后在全球各地發表演講，戴爾、可口可樂、富國銀行、21世紀不動產和美國財政部都是他的客戶。

It’s official: Michael Phelps is the?most decorated Olympian?of all time. The American competitive swimmer?won six?gold medals?at?the 2016 Olympics, bringing his total medal count to?28. (Twenty-three?of them are gold — also a record).

The 31-year-old athlete?insists?that?the Rio de Janeiro games, which marks his fifth Olympic competition,will also be his last.?But?while?retirement will mean a career change for Phelps,?it doesn’t mean he’ll be restricted to a life of?relaxation and recreation.?As previous Olympic athletes have proven, retirement from competitive sports often means the start of a new career, either?within?athletics?or in a different industry altogether.

In some cases, the decision to launch a second career is for personal fulfillment; in others, it’s motivated byfinancial need.?And not every athlete is able to transition their Olympic performance to success off the podium.

That said, here are five professions Michael Phelps may want to consider upon retirement.

Speaking up.?The skills required to excel?at international sports competitions?— most notably the ability to perform under pressure —?can translate well into other?arenas. Many retired medalists naturally gravitate towards?motivational speaking gigs, inspiring those in other industries to go for their own version of gold. Former luger?Rubén González?has delivered keynote speeches?all over the world, and counts Dell,Coca-Cola,?Wells Fargo, Century21 and the U.S. Treasury Department as his clients.

2010年冬季奧運會第二日，魯本·岡薩雷斯代表阿根廷參加無舵雪橇男子單人項目比賽。

2.從政

退役的奧運選手也經常出任品牌大使，或者成為實業代言人。前奧運藝術體操選手多米尼克·道斯在醫療衛生領域走得相當順。2010年，奧巴馬任命出征1992年、1996年和2000年三界奧運會的道斯擔任健身、運動與營養顧問委員會聯席主席，輔助第一夫人米歇爾開展“Let’s Move!”全民健身活動。

Pursuing politics.?Former Olympians often take brand ambassador positions or become spokespersons for a specific cause. But?former artistic gymnast?Dominique Dawes took her passion for health all the way to the Hill — in 2010,?President Obama appointed?Dawes, who competed in?the 1992, 1996, and 2000?Olympics,as?co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, in conjunction with First Lady’s Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative.

1996年美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大舉行的奧運會上，美國體操隊員多米尼克·道斯在平衡木上。

3.執教

很多運動員退役后擔任教練培養后輩，訓練高等院校的選手，或者自立門戶組建隊伍。1976年冬奧會女子單人滑冠軍多蘿西·哈米爾走的就是這條路。掛靴后她選擇當教練，不過和傳統方式有些不同。2009年，她發起了名為I-Skate的項目，專門教有身體殘障的孩子滑冰技能，不僅提高體質，激發獨立精神，也提供了更多和同齡人交流的機會。

Passing the torch.?Many retired athletes become coaches and teachers of their trade, grooming collegiate players or running their own sports camps. Figure skater Dorothy Hamill?followed this path.?After she putting down her own blades, she now helps others lace up theirs — but with a twist. In 2009, the 1976Olympic?champion launched?I-Skate, a program that teaches children with physical disabilities how to ice skate — not only to improve their health and independence, but also to provide?them with opportunities?to interact?with?their peers.

多蘿西·哈米爾在排練單人花樣滑冰。

4.演藝

退役后，很多奧運獎牌獲得者都希望去好萊塢闖一闖。但代言合約到期后，大多數人的演藝事業僅限于偶爾客串電視節目的嘉賓，在電影里出鏡幾分鐘，或是在《名人學徒》和《與星共舞》等真人秀里露個臉。不過，不少前奧運選手成功轉行當上電視主持人或者體育賽事評論員。雙人花樣滑冰搭檔約翰尼·威爾和塔拉·利賓斯基退役后解說索契冬奧會頗受歡迎，本屆里約奧運會也很活躍。

Competing in Hollywood.?Numerous?medalists have tried to take on Tinseltown?following?their athletic retirement, but after the endorsement deals expire, most showbiz careers are limited to an occasional TV guest spot, a brief movie cameo or a stint on reality shows like?Celebrity Apprentice?and?Dancing With the Stars. Many?former athletes are able to find success, however, when they?jump behind the microphone as television hosts and sports commentators, as?retired figure skating duo?Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski have done for the Winter Games in Sochi as well as the current Summer Games in Rio.

2014年索契冬奧會舉行第13天，美國全國廣播公司（NBC）評論員約翰尼·威爾和塔拉·利賓斯基解說花樣滑冰女子單人自由滑比賽。

5.復出

菲爾普斯已經“退役”過一次。雖然他之前表示，2012年倫敦奧運會是最后一次出戰，但兩年后又投入備戰里約奧運會。本月初，他的第二次退役似乎也在打退堂鼓。當時他告訴記者：“這次參賽是為了讓第一個孩子看到我在奧運賽場上拼搏。我說‘這次’是預防我又回來。如果我真復出，你們可別打死我。所以我要說的是，這次參賽是為了讓孩子見證我在賽場上的努力，有可能是我職業生涯的收官之戰，我很希望能跟孩子分享這一刻。”對菲爾普斯而言，退役或許就像魚兒離開了水。（財富中文網）

譯者：Pessy

審校：夏林

Undoing retirement.?Phelps himself has already “retired” once before. Though he said the 2012 Olympics in London would be his last, he got back in the game?two years later?to begin training for Rio. He’s already backtracking on his second attempt at retirement,?telling reporters earlier this month: “To have our first-born be able to watch — I’ll say this just, in case I come back — my?potential?last Olympics. Just so you guys don’t beat me to death if I come back, I’m just going to say that: To have him watch the potential last races of my career is something I look forward to being able to share with him.” For Phelps, retirement might make him feel like a fish out of water.