So, here’s my story.
I used to be a black-belt Kick Boxing fighter when I was younger and played in semi-pro level at the age of 16.
I got injured (due to burnout) and had to stop for about 6 months. After that, I had to study, then work and pretty much had no interest to go back to training after all that. I guess “life happened”…
Now that I’m 30, every job I do is pure misery and I am at my worst body shape ever.
I actually feel like I am not even myself anymore.
Seems like the only think I really liked and was good at is training and having a strict training and diet program to follow for a purpose/goal.
Seems crazy to say that someone wants to start getting paid by sports at their 30s, but I don’t want to let even more years pass like that!
Is there ANY sports out there that someone can start training and have a chance to become a pro and actually make a living by that?
PS: As an athlete, not as a coach.
That’s an obvious choice but I prefer being in the game instead.
11 comments
Golf would be the first thing that comes to my mind.
There are also examples of people becoming pros in cycling or triathlon with 30+.
I think the odds of making it pro at any sport, starting in your 30s, is like 0.000001% at best.
If I had to guess at which are most achievable though, it’s things that don’t require great athleticism but do require money. Golf, anything watercraft related, shooting/archery maybe
I would say your best bet is not competing at your age but rather make a sport your profession. Become a guide for hiking or white water rafting. Ski instructor/patrol. Something along those lines.
Absolutely do not pick up golf thinking it just takes discipline to turn pro. Lol.
Go pro in your 30s ? Maybe. Start a new sport after 30 and go pro? Not likely. Maybe use you kickboxing background to try that again or do MMA.
I’ve seen golf named twice already so here’s just a small take on it: Golf is almost, if at all, impossible to succeed as a later golfer. Most pros were the best amateurs when they were Young and began around age 5, 10 (anything older than that is an oddity to begin golf and be a pro). Plus, if you can get to a good level of golf, to get there professionnally and be paid, the gap is HUGE. There are so many stories of people trying it out later in life only to fail. More famously, a guy tried to become pro by putting in all his savings and playing 6000 hours, it’s called the Dan Plan. He completey failed and it showed how difficult it is, and how good even aspiring pros are.
WNBA would be your best shot at this point
I think your best chance at going pro later in life may be in curling 🥌 or bowling 🎳. Unless your name is Happy Gilmore, I would not dedicate the time and money to golf.
Randy Couture won his first professional title at 35.
Darts. There’s no crowd like a darts crowd in Britain.
Try to do MMA, maybe I will eventually see you on UFC on a weekend night 😎
Bowling. 10-pin or Lawn.