Do retired tennis pros ever become obese? (Like other sports)

TimeToPlaySets · 10-03-2012, 10:45 AM

Seems like many pro athletes let themselves get fat (or genetically become fat). I can not picture a former USTA player becoming obese.
Same with golfers. Yet, MBA, NFL, even MLB, I see fat old timers. Can anyone cite examples?

Correlation is not causation? Are tennis players a different breed? Any theories to throw about?

LanceStern · 10-03-2012, 10:54 AM

I cannot cite examples, but all of the "legends" we've seen so far seem to stay in relatively slim form(McEnroes, Sampras, Agassi)

I would tehorize it's because they get into great work out routines for all their life, and tennis (or any individual sport) is relatively easy sport to pick up and play even in older age (unlike football/hockey, which builds you to be BIG and then you can't keep that sport up in your later years). And for the MLB you don't have to necessarily be amazing shape (no offense to baseball players) and it can be a low-demand sport

dominikk1985 · 10-03-2012, 11:07 AM

ivan lendl was very fat a few years ago (I think he weighed at least like 230 or so). but now that he plays again a little he is in pretty good shape again

Evan77 · 10-03-2012, 11:10 AM

check out Kafelnikov. too lazy to post his pics but you can google him. He is obeese right now, looks horrible.

Hood_Man · 10-03-2012, 11:16 AM

I suppose when you spend most of your younger adult life eating high numbers of calories, to maintain your necessary physique when competing and training, and then stop competing and training but don't adjust, the pounds will pile on.

I wonder if tennis players diets are radically different from other sports?

smoledman · 10-03-2012, 11:23 AM

Check out Pat Rafter, OMG he's obese.

kishnabe · 10-03-2012, 11:30 AM

Look at Nadal Soccer Uncle....

Nadal will be overweight with those cookies.

tennis_pro · 10-03-2012, 11:39 AM

This thread is useless without pics. Here are some:

Kafelnikov

Agassi

JTJet · 10-03-2012, 11:47 AM

LOL at that Agassi pic.

smoledman · 10-03-2012, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tennis_pro

This thread is useless without pics. Here are some:

Agassi

You sir are a genius. Wow, too bad Agassi let himself go like that.

Boricua · 10-03-2012, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoledman

You sir are a genius. Wow, too bad Agassi let himself go like that.

Big twins on the way?

smoledman · 10-03-2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boricua

Big twins on the way?

He needed all that beer for his little babies.

Crisstti · 10-04-2012, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Look at Nadal Soccer Uncle....

Nadal will be overweight with those cookies.

Miguel Angel looks fine I think?.

CMM · 10-04-2012, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Look at Nadal Soccer Uncle....

Quote:

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Nadal will be overweight with those cookies.

Judging by his father's looks, I'd say it's possible.

Alchemy-Z · 10-03-2012, 11:46 AM

More retire from other sports = more chances for fatties

you figure 2 NFL teams of 53 players = 106 people.

32 teams.

that's a lot of people...and I know plenty who stayed in great shape...but even if 50% of them didn't that would be 800 something fatties.

Tennis hall of fame is just over 200 members and I think like only 80 are alive.

Mustard · 10-03-2012, 12:39 PM

The late Horst Skoff was pretty big in his last few years of life.

Monsieur_DeLarge · 10-04-2012, 01:26 AM

I think team sports, especially contact sports where you need to carry a lot of muscle, are more prone to producing heavier-than-average former players. People with that body type will naturally turn muscle to fat as they become too old to keep themselves in top condition. Tennis players aren't chunky to start with, so it's less likely to become a problem.

I seem to remember Ilie Nastase being a bit... "cuddly" after he retired, although he's not obese? Might be wrong, though. Kafelnikov and Lendl are obvious names; two who turned to golf in their retirement, instead of jumping on to the Champions Tour to keep in shape. And I'm surprised nobody's mentioned a certain Mr Nalbandian, who I don't think will be suffering from anorexia after he quits.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustard

The late Horst Skoff was pretty big in his last few years of life.

I didn't know he'd died. Wow... guy was barely older than me. Always seems sadder when journeymen pass on, probably because there's no big hoo-ha memorials. I felt the same about Todd Witsken.

Regards,
MDL

Hood_Man · 10-03-2012, 12:53 PM

Doesn't Murray consume 6000 calories a day to maintain his current physique? That'll be a big adjustment when he retires, assuming that stays the same throughout his career.

Evan77 · 10-03-2012, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hood_Man

Doesn't Murray consume 6000 calories a day to maintain his current physique? That'll be a big adjustment when he retires, assuming that stays the same throughout his career.

hm, interesting. where did you get this info? 6000 calories is a lot ... I doubt it.

Hood_Man · 10-03-2012, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan77

hm, interesting. where did you get this info? 6000 calories is a lot ... I doubt it.

He was when he was bulking up a few years ago, but I'm just wondering if he still does or not.

I've got arms like pipe cleaners so I don't really know how this muscle maintenance stuff works

Just googled... Michael Phelps for instance was eating 12,000 a day back in 2008 during the Beijing Olympics

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7562840.stm

10-03-2012, 10:45 AM	#1
TimeToPlaySets Rookie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 185	Do retired tennis pros ever become obese? (Like other sports) Seems like many pro athletes let themselves get fat (or genetically become fat). I can not picture a former USTA player becoming obese. Same with golfers. Yet, MBA, NFL, even MLB, I see fat old timers. Can anyone cite examples? Correlation is not causation? Are tennis players a different breed? Any theories to throw about?

10-03-2012, 11:16 AM	#5
Hood_Man Legend Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 6,870	I suppose when you spend most of your younger adult life eating high numbers of calories, to maintain your necessary physique when competing and training, and then stop competing and training but don't adjust, the pounds will pile on. I wonder if tennis players diets are radically different from other sports? __________________ "You used to be able to disagree with people and still be friends." - Clint Eastwood

10-03-2012, 11:30 AM	#7
kishnabe G.O.A.T. Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 14,256	Look at Nadal Soccer Uncle.... Nadal will be overweight with those cookies. __________________ Why fight over who is G.O.A.T., when the world is just an abstract of reality~ http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/525347

10-03-2012, 11:39 AM	#8
tennis_pro G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 11,677	This thread is useless without pics. Here are some: Kafelnikov Agassi __________________ "By the Nalbandian logic, I could beat Federer when I'm "in form". Nalbandian is only a threat to linesmen." - pvaudio

10-03-2012, 12:53 PM	#18
Hood_Man Legend Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 6,870	Doesn't Murray consume 6000 calories a day to maintain his current physique? That'll be a big adjustment when he retires, assuming that stays the same throughout his career. __________________ "You used to be able to disagree with people and still be friends." - Clint Eastwood