Where do our sports heroes go when the stadium lights dim?

Athletic performance in many sports peaks in the 20s, so it's no surprise many sporting elites have retired after a brief but memorable time - with the pay packet to match - in the national and international spotlight.

ACM tracked down 10 sporting legends to find out where their careers and lives took them after their high performance days were over.

After his miraculous victory at the 2002 Winter Olympics Steven Bradbury became an Australian icon.

To come from behind and win became "doing a Bradbury".

Now the former short track speed skater has forged a career as an inspirational speaker and comedian.

He has spoken at over 1350 events in over 21 countries.

In addition to being a keynote speaker, Bradbury has also created his own brand of lager called "Last Man Standing". The name is a play on his iconic Olympic victory.

Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has kept himself busy after retiring in 2019.

Originally from Port Macquarie in NSW, Magnussen moved to Sydney's inner west where he opened up a gym in Marrickville.

He was also a contestant on Seven network's SAS Australia television show in 2020 and graced the dance floor in 2023 on Dancing with the Stars.

Former Sydney Swans captain Leo Barry has gone from taking premiership winning marks in 2005 to wealth fund management.

During his playing days, Barry would study at night after morning training.

When his AFL career came to an end at the age of 33, Barry progressed straight into a career in finance at Merrill Lynch, a US investment management company.

He now works as a portfolio manager at Fairview Equity Partners.

Former seven-time world champion Layne Beachley AO has transformed her career as surfer and now works as a "motivational speaker, trainer, facilitator and philanthropist".

In recognition of her work in helping women and girls realise their potential, as well as her accomplishments as a world champion surfer in the 1990s, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia and inducted in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2011.

At 42, Lauren Jackson AO is still having an impact on the basketball court, having signed with the Melbourne-based Southside Flyers for the 2023-24 WNBL season.

So far this season she has scored a total of 107 points, which ranks her in the top five point-scorers of the Southside Flyers.

She may be headed for her fifth Olympic Games after making Australia's final 12-player squad vying for qualification in February.

Jackson is Basketball Australia's head of women in the sport and is also the brains behind the organisation She Hoops which advocates for women in basketball.

Champion Olympic skier Lydia Lassila is still tearing up the slopes, also aged 42.

On Instagram, Lassila has been sharing footage of her adventures in Finland at the Levi Ski Resort.

Lassila is widely known for her thrill-seeking nature, having been a contestant on Australian Survivor in both 2018 and 2020 for the "All Stars" season.

Former Matildas player Dianne Alagich cannot get enough of soccer, often making appearances at training clinics and fronting the news media.

She has continued coaching at Peninsula Power FC at Redcliffe in Queensland and inspires young girls who dream of playing professional soccer.

Her former club, Adelaide United, has named an award after the former Matildas fullback.

The story of rugby league player Alex McKinnon shocked the nation when he was the victim of a tackle that left him classified as a quadriplegic.

Almost 10 years later McKinnon is a father to three young girls, but split from his former wife Teigan Power in January of 2022.

After his football career was cut short, McKinnon took up a recruitment role at the Newcastle Knights and worked as an analyst for Fox Sports.

Sam Willoughby became a household name when he won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The former BMX racing cyclist suffered a career-ending injury in 2016 which left him paralysed.

After the accident Willoughby married his teenage sweetheart, US BMX racer Alise Post, on New Year's Day in 2018. The pair has not looked back.

Willoughby has been vocal about his story.

He released a documentary about his and wife's life in 2022 and went into detail about their challenges.

The AFL career of Ben Cousins was riddled with as much scandal as triumph.

After playing 238 games for the West Coast Eagles, he lost his captaincy in 2006 and his position at the club in 2007 after a range of off-field dramas, including stalking, drugs, and restraining orders.

After drug rehabilitation and prison, the 45-year-old has taken a completely different career route: reading the news.

Since July 2022, Cousins has been the face network Seven news viewers in Western Australia see every morning for their sports bulletin.