There comes a time in every competitive athlete’s career when a decision has to be made on when to call it quits, hang up the gear and move on to other passions.

For boccia aficionado Austin Hanson, that decision could be coming soon.

Hanson, currently participating in the Americas Cup just about an hour southeast of Topeka in Gardner, has spent the better portion of his adult life playing boccia.

But at age 39, and after more than 20 years in the sport, the expenses of traveling both nationally and internationally have become a factor for the Topekan in his decision on whether to continue with boccia.

Hanson has competed in Argentina, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Greece, England, Ireland and Portugal, among other places.

via Topeka’s 24-time national boccia champ mulling future | CJOnline.com.