Welsh rugby player Barry John was just 27 when he retired, citing pressure from the media that had seen him dubbed "King John" for his play-making talent. He top-scored in the Lions' famous series victory over the All Blacks in 1971.
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Bjorn Borg had won 11 grand slams when he announced his retirement from tennis aged just 26, claiming he had lost his desire to compete at the highest level. A disastrous comeback in 1991 saw the Swede fail to win a match.
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The legendary Eric Cantona called time on his football career aged 30 saying in 2017 that he had lost his passion for the game. The Frenchman won four league titles with Manchester United in the 1990s.
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Having spent 158 consecutive weeks as world No. 1, Lorena Ochoa shocked the world of golf when she announced her retirement at the age of 28 to get married and start a family.
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NBA legend Michael Jordan retired from basketball three times -- in 1993, 1999 and 2003. On the first occasion, he was 30 years old and said the death of his father had influenced his decision. He had brief stints playing baseball before returning to the NBA with the Bulls in 1995.
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Dutch striker Marco van Basten was hampered by an ankle injury in his late 20s and, after multiple surgeries, was forced to retire from football age 30.
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Five days after winning the Formula One world title, Nico Rosberg announced he was quitting the sport aged 31. "I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right," the German said.
