noun
player's career; career as an athlete
Refers to the span of an athlete's active competitive career, often used when discussing its end or continuation.
その怪我で彼の選手生命は絶たれた。
That injury ended his career as an athlete.
選手生命を長く保つには、体のケアが欠かせない。
To prolong your athletic career, taking care of your body is essential.
Compound of 選手 (player, athlete) and 生命 (life). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is conventionally understood as 'athletic career'.