Professional Athletes, Individual Sports

Depending on the setting of the sport (indoors or outdoors) and the rules, athletes compete in many different conditions. Outdoor track-and-field athletes often compete in hot or rainy conditions, but organizing officials can call off the meet at any point, or postpone competition until better weather. Indoor events are less subject to cancellation; however, since it is in the best interests of an organization not to risk the athletes' health, any condition that might adversely affect the outcome of a competition is usually reason enough to cancel or postpone it. In addition, an athlete may withdraw from competition if he or she is injured or ill.

In order to reach the elite level of a sport, many athletes begin training at an early age for their careers. Generally, professional athletes have been working at their sports since they were small children; skiers, figure skaters, and gymnasts, for example, begin skiing, skating, and tumbling as young as age two or three. As these young athletes get better, they must find a way to fit hours of practice time into a normal day, usually several hours before school and several hours after school. The situation is also compounded by the fact that most training and competition facilities are often far from athletes’ homes, which means they must endure long commutes to and from practice and competitions with a parent. Athletes with exceptional potential may decide to participate in special training programs far away from their homes, and end up living with families of other athletes or coaches. Separation from a child's parents and family is an especially hard and frustrating element of the training program; oftentimes, a family may instead opt to uproot their lives and move to ensure that the athlete has a normal family environment in addition to the best training facilities.

The expenses of a sport can be overwhelming, as can the time an athlete must devote to practice and travel to and from competitions. In addition to specialized equipment and clothing, the athlete must pay for a coach, travel expenses, competition fees, and, depending on the sport, time at the facility or gym where he or she practices. Tennis, golf, figure skating, and skiing are among the most expensive sports to enter.

Years of hard work, practice, and financial sacrifice do not guarantee that an athlete will succeed or receive financial reward for their efforts. Those who choose to pursue a career as a professional athlete must have an incredible work ethic, a nearly insatiable ambition to succeed, and a true love for their sport.