Should the reader be a sports officiardo, the list of names of those in top sport nearing the end of their careers who have retired early will be familiar.
There is no need to list name after name as these regular scenarios have been on the sports newscasts in recent months.
Rather, the real questions relate to both the frequency and the timing.
Take first the frequency issue. None of us are immune to the idea that the older one gets in hard physical sporting endeavours the more likely is there of serious injury. The number of times sport chaplains discuss with injured athletes their dilemmas over sport injury is legion.
And dilemmas they are. An athlete in whatever sport has worked their bodies to the bone (as it were) hoping against hope they won't suffer a career ending calamity and this is one of the clues as to what is happening in Australia today.
Numerous elite athletes – Rugby League Players, AFL players, Basketballers, Soccer elites, Netball stars – have discussed such issues with a range of their confidants and announced their retirement 'before' the calamity occurs.
Now it doesn't need to be a top level athlete at such levels, I cannot recall how many times someone has said to me, having difficulty getting into a car or getting out of a chair – it's an old sports injury!
Many elite athletes have become wise to the fact and having weighed up all that is on offer, decided to call it time.
The Timing therefore is the second point. There is heartache and anguish in calling it time, and some want that one last season. We all appreciate such sentiments. It applies in some way to every area of life. Some stay in business too long, some keep an investment too long. Some stay at tertiary studies way too long.
Elite athletes have a different problem. It is a massive income to let go. There is pride of place to consider. The accolades disappear in an instant. Their one aim is victory in their endeavours and that is a huge consideration to swallow. The 'mind' energy associated with top sport is phenomenal, and where does anyone put that emotional power-plant.
What is evident from all this, a growing number of elite athletes are making this move before the decision is no longer in their privy.
Josh Hinds is a school chaplain and an experienced international sports writer.
Josh Hinds is a school chaplain and an experienced international sport writer, now in his 9th year as a Christian Today sport writer.