Achieve the pinnacle of the sport, by setting a few records and putting yourself in the ame echelon as the great, but retire from the game after only a short time due to injury, or would you rather lift for many years but never come close to the level of the greats?

To put it more clearly:
1) 8 year lifting career with 2 national records, 1 world record, early retirement due to inury, take up yoga
2) 35 year lifting career at master and elite level, die a powerlifter