STUNNING RETIREMENTS

After Rosberg’s sudden retirement, five days after clinching the F1 championship, HT takes a look at other athletes who bowed out while at the top

BJORN BORG

(tennis) At an age where most athletes come into their prime, Bjorn Borg stunned everyone by retiring in 1981. The then 26-year-old wanted “to do other things”. Called the first rockstar of tennis, Borg won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. Attempted a comeback in 1991 but it was shortlived.

MS DHONI

(cricket) Stunned everyone by calling time on his Test career on the 2014-15 Australia tour. What was astonishing was that Dhoni ended his career after the drawn Melbourne Test, with one more Test in Sydney still remaining in the series. He cited “the strain of playing all formats” as the reason.

MICHAEL JORDAN

(basketball) Jordan’s retirement in October 1993 was a jolt, coming as it did just four months after he won a third successive NBA title with Chicago Bulls. Jordan, then just 30, said, “I just feel I don’t have anything else to prove.” He did reconsider his decision, winning more titles before finally stepping down for good.

GARRY KASPAROV

(chess) Kasparov, who had been the world’s top ranked chess player since 1984, decided to retire in 2005, to focus on writing and a move into politics. The Russian GM had been the youngest world champion ever at 22. He said he was retiring at 41 because he saw no real goals left.