In the past, career termination research has focused on many different aspects (e.g. cultural differences, transitional phases, adaptation processes, psychological problems, etc.). Research on gender differences of these aspects, however, is rather scarce.The aim of this study is to investigate gender-specific reasons for why elite athletes competing at the highest international level stop their careers. In one of the few existing studies on the topic Reints and Wylleman (2010) identified gender differences concerning career lengths as well as reasons for career termination.The purpose of this study is to analyze the lengths of the different career stages as well as career end of 32 female and 38 male Danish top-level athletes who all achieved either a medal at European level or placed among the top ten at world level.The data was collected in an online study in 2009. Results indicate that on average Danish female elite athletes end their career at the age of 28.5 years and that the three most frequent reasons for ending are injury (28%), starting a family (22%) and lack of motivation / achieved it all (17%). No gender differences appear concerning career length or length of the different career stages. However, females and males differ on reasons for career termination.These differences will be discussed on the basis of how to improve the situation of female athletes ending their career and how career support services could be better designed to match their needs.