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Freediving is a young sport and there are not many professional freedivers that live purely out of their career as athletes. Probably less than 10 top freedivers globally can make a living out of sponsorships right now, but what happens after their competitive career ends? What's in store for them when "the music's over"? Thibault Guignes explains.
So far, most freediving top athletes belonged in two categories: freediving instructor or freediving shop owners (including competition organizers): such as William Trubridge, Mike Board, Adam Stern, Carlos Coste, myself, etc. Freedivers with another job on the side: such as Jennifer Wendland, Alexey Molchanov (who is also teaching but manages a freediving agency and an equipment brand). In the past, it was hardly possible, even for the best athletes to live just out of competing. Money prizes are very rare in freediving competitions and sponsors are just starting to emerge as the sport is getting more exposure.
For these athletes, it is easier to imagine what they can do after retiring from competitive freediving. They will keep developing their teaching facilities or keep working in the field they are already working in. But for the athletes that decided from the start to become professional freedivers, what will they do after their retirement from competitions?
First, we are still at a stage where you can be a top athlete at an "older" age in freediving. Abdelatif Allouach who is, in my opinion, one of the best freedivers in the circuit, at the moment is 44 years old, he is at his top level, and with still a margin of progression. Will this change and will we see only young athletes in the future as we see in some other sports?
It is hard to say as very few people start freediving as kids but training starts late. Also, freediving is a sport that requires a long-term adaptation for the body, so we will maybe see like in some sports, the best athletes to be in their mid-thirties or forties. In any case, there will be a moment to retire from competing as a professional. And the question is, what does the future hold for a retired freediving athlete?
Just like in other sports, I guess freediving athletes will need to prepare for their reconversion, whether it is in a sports field or a completely different field. There are times in an athlete's career to dedicate to learning new skills, even a new job. Studying again, if needed …
Also, top athletes usually through their sponsors and media, create a network that gives them opportunities to give speeches (inspirational speeches towards public or companies). Giving motivational speeches, or teaching breathing techniques, relaxation to a vast audience or in small groups can be a reconversion plan.
Becoming a trainer for other athletes (freedivers or for other sports) can also be an option.
Some others will maybe prefer to develop their artistic skills and will become underwater photographers or videographers and will direct documentaries like Guillaume Nery.
My feeling is that as the sport will grow, it will become a sport beyond others, and the opportunities of reconversions will be the same as for other sports. In France for instance, freediving is now getting acknowledged as a high-level sport and that gives the opportunity to French freediving athletes to get help for reconversion or starting studying again. It will probably follow in some other countries.
As far as I am concerned, I started freediving at 31 years old randomly, so I never imagined I would become a professional athlete. That’s why I first developed a freediving center (originally Freedive HQ in Mactan, Philippines, and now Camotes Freediving, in Camotes, Philippines) to make a living with my newly found passion. On the side, I kept training and little by little I made it to the top as a competitive athlete. But that was not planned at all, so I did not really look for sponsors or ways to earn money as a professional athlete. I was still lucky to be supported by a couple of companies. I am not making a full living out of it, but enough to pay for all my competitions and traveling to get there.
I also have another background as an Ocean Engineer and a Business Developer. I am now 38 years old and I hope my career as an athlete is far from over. Still, I am thinking of the future and what to do if I stop competing for a reason or another. The answer is simple as I really want to keep sharing my passion and I already have the perfect place to do so in Camotes. Now for professional athletes that started as athletes and will make their whole career out of it, a little bit of preparation should make it easy to find a reconversion.