Kelly Slater to announce shock retirement?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Washington
  • Last updated on

Slater created a stir on Sunday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.
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Sad news for Slater fans. Speculation had been rife that the American athlete best known for his role on the television series Baywatch, is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 53, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 12/01/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an athlete isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an athlete just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouKelly

For a little while on Sunday evening, #ThankYouKelly was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Kelly Slater was unlike any other athlete we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouKelly”
— @universalObserver, 11 Jan 2026
“Didn't Kelly Slater retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 11 Jan 2026

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