Abby Steiner pausing track career

Thanks for sharing this update. Makes sense for her to take time to fully recover and pursue another passion. She's still young, and next year is a non-championship year (no offense to the "Ultimate Championship"). If she takes two academic years to complete her program, she'll be done by spring 2027 and can resume training then with an eye toward LA. In 2028, she'll be 28, an age where she can still contend. For inspiration, she can look at Donavan Brazier.

Has anyone "paused" their career as a pro T&F athlete and successfully "un-paused" it again?

Kipyegon,

St Pierre,

and every other woman that has gotten pregnant and come back.

I would imagine that coming back from a degree is easier than coming back after creating another human being inside of you.

Allyson Felix is a mother

I was going to pause posting on LRC for a while, but decided there’s too much of a need for my wisdom and humor in these desperate times, so I’ll humbly continue.

Shelby

She' well and truly washed. Will never make another international team.

Don't you ever pause good sir

Brazier. Although his reset after only five months is highly suspect. It’s just not “polite” to notice.

It's the only logical decision after Haglund's surgery. During the Brazier situation I remember reading it's a 3 year recovery period. I posted that here.

Abby wrote elsewhere that her first surgery was August 2023, followed shortly by another one, and then a third this year.

So nothing at all makes sense until late 2026 at the earliest. I'm not sure how extensive the third surgery was, and therefore when the 3-year clock begins. Hopefully it was merely a clean up.

Brazier would know best regarding timetable and progress but I haven't seen the related questions and answers from him. Maybe after Tokyo.

She's not really "pausing". The word pausing implies that she has a choice. The truth is that she's injured and she can't run right now even if she wanted to.

George Foreman took 10 Years off, Was Like 200 pounds overweight, kept woring out then started taking fights, and had gradually harder fight, Fought for the Title lost a Close fight, to Evander Holyfield kept fighting got a fight With Michael Moorer who he gradually wore down and then he knocked Moorer Out. So yeah it has been done and can be done.

Foreman was a bit unusual, as He Won The Olympic Bold Medal less than a year after he had his first practice, So Foreman PROVED

1. You do NOT have to train Lots of Year or your whole life to win an Olympic Gold Medal, You can do it less than 1 Year after Trying A Sport.

2. You can Retire from a Sport Get 200 Pounds Overweight After 10 Years of Inactivity and Good Eating, Decide your getting too fat, start exercising and Then become World Champion.

3. It Happened for George Foreman and it could happen to you.

Haglund's surgery sucks. IMO, you lose something after the surgery - flexibility and springiness. Also, it is amazing how quickly calf muscles atrophy post surgery.

Athletes pause their careers all the time because of injuries, (Brazier, Bekele), bans (Gatlin, Shelby), maternity (Kipyegon, ESP) and come back.

Of course, all of those athletes were champions or record holders before taking a break. If someone is not at the top level of talent they still won't be when they attempt to come back. The talent level doesn't change.

Michael Jordsn won 3 championships and 2 MVPs after pausing his career to play baseball.

We are grateful, sir

Pausing track career means sponsorship contract is up and not renewed.

I know her. She is a good person and as a fellow Ohioan of Abby, you/Kobbs, she would think you’re an absolute piece of sh!t.

Bill Dellinger. Took a year off to start a career teaching school. Medalist in ‘64.