It’s no secret that many Olympic athletes joined OnlyFans in recent years as a way to fund their training and make ends meet while preparing for the games. But what happens when those athletes retire from their sport? That’s what New Zealand Olympic rower Robbie Manson is going through right now.

The 35-year-old recently announced his retirement from the sport — but not his retirement from OnlyFans.

Manson competed for his country in the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro before retiring from rowing in 2020. But like many athletes, he had second thoughts about the decision and picked up his oars again two years later in 2022. After resuming training, he qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris where he came in sixth place in the men’s double sculls with Ben Mason.

He made the big retirement announcement in an emotional Instagram post.

“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.”

The 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.”

While he may want to explore new opportunities, he isn’t letting go of some of his old ones, including OnlyFans. He ended the post with a brief mention of the venture.

“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.”

Manson also made the announcement on his OnlyFans channel directly thanking his subscribers for their support over the years. “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.”

That journey may include fellow queer Olympian Matthew Mitcham, an Australian diver who has collaborated with Manson to create content for both of their OnlyFans channels recently. Mitcham, who took home bronze in his sport in the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been outspoken about his OnlyFans account and how he uses the platform as an athlete.