An OnlyFans model announced his retirement recently. No, not from OnlyFans. Robbie Manson announced his retirement from the sport that he competed in at multiple Olympic games: rowing. Manson hails from New Zealand, and the 35-year-old turned to Instagram to make the big announcement.
“After nearly two years away from rowing, a small itch crept in – what if I gave it another shot? From Masters to club rowing, I found my way back. I didn’t know how far I’d get – or even how far I wanted to. There were plenty of moments where things could’ve gone either way. But I’m proud of what I managed to achieve.”
And he achieved plenty. The New Zealand Olympian competed in the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro before retiring from the sport in 2020. But like many athletes, he changed his mind. As he said in the post, he gave it another shot and resumed training in 2022. After getting back in shape, he qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He competed in the men’s double sculls with Ben Mason where he came in sixth place.
Why did Manson decide now was the time? His Instagram post continued: “Qualifying for the Olympics for a fourth time—and competing for a third—was a huge highlight. And to top it off, making the Olympic final for the first time. I’d planned to keep going after Paris, and I did, because I felt like there was still more in the tank. But competing at this level demands so much—time, energy, stress, and sacrifice—and eventually, the cost starts to outweigh the reward. Lately, the pull to explore new opportunities has been stronger than the pull to keep racing.”
He may be on the lookout for some new opportunities, but he isn’t planning on shuttering his OnlyFans account anytime soon. At least, not according to the end of that Instagram post: “With that itch well and truly scratched, it’s time to shift my focus to growing my online coaching business and continuing to explore new things – whether that’s in fitness, business, or even (let’s call it this) my modelling career.”
The modeling career is his OnlyFans venture, and he seems to be doubling down on his account there. He posted on that channel as well, thanking his followers and subscribers in a shorter retirement announcement:
“The last two years have been amazing, and I especially want to thank you, my subscribers, for making it all possible. Your support has meant the world to me. While my competitive racing days may be behind me for now, I’ll stay fit to keep my options open and might do a few occasional races for fun. I’m also excited to focus more on growing my online coaching business and continuing my OnlyFans journey with all of you.”
Manson is one of many Olympians who have used the platform to fund their training or simply to make ends meet between games — or perhaps, to hang on to some of that celebrity that comes with competing at that level.