FutureProof Pro

In the ninth in our series of posts showcasing former professional athletes' "Top Tips for Transition" it’s the turn of ABIGAIL Irozuru OLY Abigail is a British long jumper and Olympian known for representing Great Britain at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and reaching the World Championships final in 2019. Beyond her athletic achievements, she’s a speaker and coach dedicated to inspiring others through her experiences in sport and personal growth 👏 After a distinguished career, Abigail has transitioned not once but twice, first after an injury in 2016 and more recently in 2024 following her Olympic journey in Tokyo. Here are Abigail’s top tips for navigating the transition out of sport: 🔑 Keep moving - prioritise your physical health! Just because you’re transitioning out of elite sport doesn’t mean you should stop moving. Physical activity isn’t only beneficial to our bodies but also to our mental health. Studies show exercise reduces the risk of depression by up to 30% and helps lower the chances of cognitive decline. Even if you no longer compete, stay active in ways that suit your new lifestyle – join a local team, try a new sport, or engage in fitness activities that keep you feeling strong and healthy. 🔑 Learn from and lean on others - build a support network Transitioning out of sport isn’t easy, and one of the best resources available is the shared experience of others. Reach out to teammates, former athletes, or professionals like performance advisors and therapists who understand the unique challenges athletes face in retirement. Talking through the emotional aspects of retirement can help you process the change and feel less isolated. I’ve often found incredible support in these conversations and, as a coach and former athlete, I'm here if anyone needs a listening ear. 🔑 Be Decisive - commit to your decision, but be flexible with what's next A clear decision to step away from sport can provide closure, especially if done on your own terms. Curtis Beach, a Team USA decathlete I interviewed on my podcast, emphasised the power of decisiveness when retiring. However, not every transition has a clear-cut end, and that’s okay. Sometimes circumstances, like an injury or other life events, make the decision for us. What matters is that once the decision is made, you fully commit to it, allowing yourself space to redefine your goals and passions. #toptips #transition #careers #athletetransition #sports Tom May James Hitchman Paul Ioannou Josh Basham

Pretty much what you'll get with a vast proportion of athletes when you take them into your business. Love this post. Well done Amy Gibson

Another brilliant opportunity for those with a passion for sport to meet up at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai next week. So many opportunities to discuss and problems to address within sport and exciting to grow and solve them through the growing network in the Middle East.

Wondered where elite sports people can make a difference to your business? This is a great post from Nick Robinson highlighting 7 takeaways from some of the best. These traits could transform your business and drive you to different levels. Have a look. We'd love to know what you think.

A big opportunity without costing businesses the earth. Women's sport has an opportunity not to make the mistakes that male sport has over the years. Could you be a part of the framework and support network as we look to build it?

We’re excited to announce a collaboration between FutureProof Pro and England Rugby dedicated to helping the future for professional rugby referees. Read more here: > https://lnkd.in/dTub5_BC This initiative is designed to support the referees in leveraging their unique skills to excel in their future careers. The collaboration will provide the refs with:   🏉 Insights into their workplace strengths and growth areas. 🏉 Guidance to design fulfilling career paths beyond refereeing. 🏉 Connections with mentors and business leaders to build a network for future opportunities. 🏉 Connections with forward-thinking employers for work experience and future full time roles. If your organisation is looking for exceptional talent from sport or if you want to learn more about this initiative with the referees, please connect with Tom May or James Hitchman to find out more 😃 #sportingtalent #futureplanning #sport #lifebeyondsport #careertransition James Hitchman Tom May Paul Ioannou Michael Preston

Athletes as Entrepreneurs are a rising trend!   Today, more athletes are stepping off the field and into the boardroom, leveraging their drive, discipline, and network to build successful businesses. This trend has opened doors to unique opportunities that align with their passion for sport, health, fitness, and financial independence. If you’ve ever considered using your sports mindset to grow a business, this might be a great chance. Who are we looking for? We’re seeking current or former athletes who: - Have a passion for fitness and well-being. - Are motivated to run their own business. - Want to make a difference within the community. - No prior experience is required; full training is provided. Why this may be a strong investment for you: - High Earning Potential: Achieve up to 30% pre-tax profit margins! - Equity Share: Receive 5,000 growth shares in the business, allowing you to benefit as the brand scales globally. - Scalable Business Model: Start small and expand as demand grows. Build a sustainable business at your own pace This could also be perfect for a group of athletes who want to invest together. By pooling resources, you could split the initial investment, leverage diverse skills, maximise reach using a combined network too. A collaboration would also allow you to balance your time and commitment while still enjoying the financial and social benefits of the business! If this sparks some interest, please reach out to Tom May or James Hitchman via Linked In to discuss further or email hello@futureproofpro.net. #athleteinvestors #athleteentrepreneur #talent #sport #wellbeing FutureProof Pro SportEx Partners

This is going to be a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with businesses and business people to make sure that they understand what problems that athletes are facing post competition. A good chance to spread the message and for us to try to urge businesses to use the largely untapped sporting talent pool as a market to look to when looking to fill new roles. Please do come to the event and say hi should you be in Dubai this Thursday. SportEx Partners The Sports Playmaker #business #sport #dubai #sportsbusiness #sport

This is a brilliant article by the team at Redeployable. This interview with Ben Cruise highlights exactly the same issues that athletes will face when they look to leave sport and the bubble of professional sport bursts. Seeing the work that Ben Read is doing in this space is amazing and inspires us to make a similar impact on the sports industry. Athletes, make sure you read, digest and understand the points in this article. Very useful as a resource!

We are excited to once again be attending the The Professional Cricketers' Association Futures Conference which will be held up at St. George's Park later on this week. It's a brilliant event with all of the cricketers attending having a good grasp of the understanding that there needs to be something outside of their sport which gives them an ability to be more rounded as an individual but also to arm them with the knowledge and understanding that they need to make a successful move out of sport, once that time comes. #cricket #thepca #sports #sportsbusiness #business #careers #transition