By Tom Ryan

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson is regarded as one of the greatest players in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. He was a three-time MVP who had reached the championship final nine times, winning it on five occasions. His career lasted 12 seasons, all with the LA Lakers, retiring at the age of 32.

On November 7th, 1991, Magic Johnson stunned the world with two announcements. Not only did he announce his retirement, he also revealed that he was HIV positive. This announcement worried many fans, fearing it might be the end of Magic Johnson and that the HIV would rapidly turn into AIDS and lead to the death of Magic Johnson.

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Justine Henin

Justine Henin was a superstar of women’s tennis. She was world number one and was on a 32-match win streak when she abruptly announced her retirement from the sport at only 25. The shock of the announcement caught everyone off-guard but also the lack of emotion.

During the announcement, Henin said “It’s a page that’s turning. I don’t feel sadness. It’s more relief. I know it’s a shock for many people, but it’s a decision I’ve thought long and hard about.” This asks the question whether or not she was happy and enjoying tennis as 25 is very young to retire from the sport.

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Bjorn Borg

Bjorn Borg was another tennis superstar whose career lasted barely a decade. Borg was one of the most famous athletes of his generation due to his rockstar persona and meteoric rise. The world was stunned in January 1983 when Borg answered a question by announcing his retirement. Asked about upcoming competitions, Borg replied; “I have no comment, except that I’m going to retire.”

Borg had won five straight Wimbledon titles, 1976 to 1980, and had amassed a total of 11 Grand Slams. He later announced that his reason to retire was because tennis had stopped being fun for him and he could no longer give 100 per cent to the game. He attempted a comeback eight years later, but after two bad years he eventually packed it in for good.

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Michael Jordan

Before the 1993/94 season, Michael Jordan shook the basketball world by announcing his retirement from the sport in order to play in the MLB (Major League Baseball). His retirement was on the back of his third consecutive championship with the Chicago Bulls as well as being a three time MVP and nine time All-Star player.

Michael Jordan did however return to basketball after an unsuccessful stint in the MLB. Jordan went on to win three more championships with the Bulls and earned himself two more MVP honours, before retiring from the sport altogether in 2003.

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Nico Rosberg

Nico Rosberg’s retirement is up there with the biggest shocks in the world of sport. Rosberg’s decision to retire from Formula One was made less than 24 hours after he won his only career world championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the decision being publicly announced five days later. After a season of battling against team mate Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg saw his title winning season as the perfect moment to end his career that started in 2006.

Many fans were shocked at the announcement as many were looking forward to his title defence in 2017 but many of his colleagues however had a different way of seeing it. Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss said, “He has chosen to leave at the pinnacle of his career, as world champion, having achieved his childhood dream.”

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