American athletes who achieved medals in the Paris Olympics not only had the honor of standing on the podium, but they will also be rewarded with a paycheck. The United States is among the few countries that provide financial bonuses for athletes who win medals of any color at the 2024 Games. Additionally, gold medalists in track and field will receive extra cash from World Athletics, marking the first time a global sports organization has implemented this kind of incentive for a specific sport.
During the 2020 Games in Tokyo, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee awarded $37,500 for each American athlete who won a gold medal, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze. While the exact figures for the payouts in Paris have not been disclosed, World Athletics has confirmed that winners of individual track and field events will receive $50,000 each, with relay teammates splitting $50,000.
One standout athlete who is expected to receive a substantial payout is Gabby Thomas, a sprint star who clinched a gold in the women’s 200-meter race and contributed to two winning relay teams. Away from the track, gymnast Simone Biles and swimmer Torri Huske impressively secured three gold medals each. Huske and her swimming partner Regan Smith also amassed a total of five medals, surpassing Biles’ four.
It is worth noting that several U.S. athletes, such as Biles and sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, have lucrative sponsorship deals that provide them with additional income. Richardson, for instance, recently signed a multi-year, multi-million-dollar agreement with Nike, enhancing her financial prosperity.
