VANCOUVER VOICE: Carl Lewis is curling's No.1 fan

IT can't be easy retiring from professional sport.

HOOKED: Nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis admits he's caught the curling bug in Vancouver (Getty Images)

You have spent your whole life training for it, keeping yourself in routine and dedicating every second of your time to your sport.

And then suddenly, you're in your 30s and your body can't keep up any more. You pass the buck to the next generation and grapple for that taste of competition on the golf course or through your children.

But rather than golf, it seems nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis is proposing a different game to wish away those long afternoons - curling.

Don't be fooled, the sweeping takes it out of you, but Lewis had his first taste on the sheets in Vancouver and admits he's hooked.

"I love curling," said the 48-year-old.

"I had never really seen it before, but I watched it on television and I like it a lot.

"It's easy to understand, it's constantly moving and it's over pretty quickly. I really enjoyed sitting there, talking to the American coaches and getting my head round the dynamics."

Maybe Lewis' interest will spark a team of retired-American athletes vying for a spot in Sochi 2014?

Personally, I'd love to see Lewis, Michael Johnson, Maurice Greene and Calvin Smith take to the ice against Kevin Martin and co.