What's Olympic athletes' salary?

[Zeze]

I heard they actually get $$$ for winning medals (gold silver bronze) from government.

Do they have a salary on top? Or is it all just sponsorship?

 

[rudder]

They get money from doing subway commercials after the olympics.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Yeah, there's prize money for winning medals, maybe a living stipend as well during training. Beyond that, it's all sponsors or regular day jobs.

http://www.stuckiniowa.com/what-do-olympic-athletes-earn/
http://assets.teamusa.org/assets/do.../filename/1104/2008AthleteSupportCriteria.pdf

 

[techs]

I think they earn money by reselling all the free condoms.

 

[Bateluer]

http://money.cnn.com/2012/07/10/news/economy/olympic-athletes-financial/index.htm

Lots of them make diddily.

Only 50% of American track and field athletes who are ranked in the top ten in the nation in their event earn more than $15,000 a year in income from the sport, according to a survey conducted by the USA Track and Field Foundation.
And most athletes not ranked in the top ten nationally fare much worse.

"There is an incredibly steep drop in earning power from the elite of the elite athletes to individuals who are just slightly lower ranked," said Jack Wickens, who conducted the survey and oversees the foundation's grant program.

Adding to the uncertainty, most apparel contracts signed by track and field athletes contain provisions that result in sharply lower income if an athlete is injured or fails to perform as expected.

 

[BladeVenom]

They get paid in condoms.

 

[highland145]

A Phelps story said he'd made $40M so far.

 

[Gooberlx2]

A Phelps story said he'd made $40M so far.

Pretty easy to believe with all the sponsorships he's bound to have.

Don't see gold medalist fencers on Wheaties boxes too often.

 

[zinfamous]

A Phelps story said he'd made $40M so far.

He should share his wealth with all the other poor athletes.

:sneaky:

 

[BladeVenom]

Don't see gold medalist fencers on Wheaties boxes too often.

You don't see many US gold medal fencers either. When Mariel Zagunis won her gold medal in 2004, that was the first gold medal in fencing that the US had won in a 100 years.

 

[TheNinja]

They get all the free poon tang they can handle from other countries' athletes while they are in the Olympic Village. That's enough payment right there IMO.

 

[Gooberlx2]

You don't see many US gold medal fencers either. When Mariel Zagunis won her gold medal in 2004, that was the first gold medal in fencing that the US had won in a 100 years.

And, despite that achievement, we still didn't see her on a Wheaties box.

I'm just saying that unless you're winning gold for a major televised sport/event. You're not making bank as an olympian.

 

[Bignate603]

A Phelps story said he'd made $40M so far.

That's because he absolutely dominated in a popular sport so he got massive sponsorships. The US government doesn't pay it's Olympic athletes. If they get any money for competing in their sport it is through winning events during the year that have cash associated with them (big marathons often do) or sponsorships.

 

[jagec]

I wonder if the Chinese government pays its athletes? It wouldn't surprise me, China's been really aggressive about getting more medals lately.

 

[techs]

North Korean athletes get paid in food.

 

[slayer202]

They get shafted. And the ones that are lucky enough to get advertising deals(from non-official-olympic sponsors) get their commercials etc on hiatus while the olympics are going on

 

[mnewsham]

And, despite that achievement, we still didn't see her on a Wheaties box.

I'm just saying that unless you're winning gold for a major televised sport/event. You're not making bank as an olympian.

Zagunis is sponsored by Nike and Leon Paul as well as a few others. High level fencing doesn't pay that well, the most you can hope for is a stipend from your country if you are in the top 5 in your country, or some small sponsorship deals.

I know for Nike she wears the Nike Air Ballestra as endorsement.

As for Leon Paul they have an entire Sabre blade line named after her so she makes a good bit from that I am sure.

 

[NutBucket]

I wonder if the Chinese government pays its athletes? It wouldn't surprise me, China's been really aggressive about getting more medals lately.

I wouldn't say they're paid...more like "encouraged" to win.

 

[Bignate603]

I wouldn't say they're paid...more like "encouraged" to win.

You should go read what the old Iraqi government to their athletes. It was absolute torture.

 

[NutBucket]

I don't doubt it for one instant.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

fencing isn't a poor man's game. hell, half of the olympic events aren't even real sports.

 

[sdifox]

Most of them are dead poor. The dedication to the Olympic dream is financially ruinous.

 

[mnewsham]

Most of them are dead poor. The dedication to the Olympic dream is financially ruinous.

But just think of all the sex once you get to the olympics

 

[sdifox]

But just think of all the sex once you get to the olympics

you would think the girls would want the good genes ()

 

[highland145]

He should share his wealth with all the other poor athletes.

:sneaky:

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