When Stepping Back is Braver Than Standing On the Podium: Saina Nehwal Shows Us

When Saina Nehwal announced her retirement at 35, the first reaction wasn’t celebration or understanding, it was nostalgia and that uncomfortable question people love to whisper: “Couldn’t she have gone on a little longer?” That question exposes a deeper problem in how we look at success.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that greatness means stretching yourself until there’s nothing left. But Saina’s career tells a more honest story. 

A body worn down by injuries, years of being India’s flag bearer in women’s badminton, constant expectations, and pressure does not magically disappear just because you want one more medal. At some point, continuing stops being ambition and starts becoming self discomfort.

The Myth of “Just One More Medal”

Sports culture loves extremes. Either you’re a champion or you’re forgotten. There’s no space for rest, pause, or reflection in that narrative. Athletes are praised for playing through pain and pushing limits, but rarely asked what that pain costs them long-term.

Saina’s decision disrupts this myth. She didn’t retire because she stopped loving badminton; she retired because her body had already given more than it reasonably could.

Manu Bhaker and the Power of Stepping Back

In Following her historic double bronze medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian shooter Manu Bhaker took a planned 3 month break, even missing the ISSF World Cup Final, only to return with a bang in November 2024.

The break was a mutual decision with her coach, Jaspal Rana, aimed at allowing her to recover from injuries sustained to her hand due to the repeated recoil of the pistol during intense, long-term training. She stepped back, rebuilt her mindset, worked quietly, and returned stronger.

Simone Biles and the Courage to Pause

Three years ago, superstar gymnast Simone Biles sparked a global conversation around mental health in sports when she chose to withdraw from the women's team final at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and four subsequent individual finals to priority her mental well being.

The backlash was brutal. She was called selfish, weak, and a quitter by people who had never even knew the basic rules of gymnastics.

While she made a victorious return to win gold in Paris 2024, she's currently enjoying time off to heal and decide on her future involvement in the sport, potentially for the 2028 LA Olympics. 

Redefining Success Beyond the Finish Line

If sports are meant to inspire, then the lesson can’t only be about winning. It also has to be about listening to your body, your mind, and your limits. Saina’s retirement, Simone’s pause, Manu’s reset all point to the same truth.

Views expressed by the author are their own.