Do Olympians ALSO Work Odd Jobs?
Odd Jobs is a newsletter about careers that don’t fit in cubicles. Too many people are miserable with their lives, jobs, and themselves. Why not do something odd and make $$$ while you’re at it? I’ve got a million ideas for you.
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I wrote yesterday that Olympic athletes don’t get paid to compete in Tokyo. Some even pay their own way there, make $0 from endorsements (because they don’t get any), and don’t win a medal (so the US doesn’t give them any prize money).
Most of you knew that they athletes didn’t just get paid to perform at the Olympics…though I believe they should.
MILLIONS of people around the word watch them, cheer for them, and these athletes don’t get a dollar from the MILLIONS of dollars brands spend to advertise while we watch the games on TV.
Not only that - but it cost these athletes a lot of $$$ to train and travel to Tokyo.
How Much Does it Cost?
Forbes put together some of the costs of being a summer Olympian.
It cost archers trying to make it to the Olympics at least $25,000 a year and more than four years of training to reach Olympic level.
Forbes also said Table Tennis athletes pay more than $20,000 a year and had to train anywhere between eight to 12 years to reach Olympic level.
Fencing also averaged a cost of $20,000 a year with 10 to 15 years of training.
For gymnasts such as Simone Biles, it costs at least $15,000 a year to train and compete, and training lasts between five to eight years, Forbes said.
Famously, Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas' mom said her daughter's training was a factor in why she had to file for bankruptcy.
So how do some of these athletes afford this lifestyle? Especially the ones who are NOT getting millions in endorsements?
JOBS!
Some even work some very odd jobs.
Let’s look at those.
Meet the Olympian’s Odd Jobs:
British curler Glen Muirhead is also a sheep farmer who works and competes alongside his brother Thomas.
Japanese canoe slalom competitor Kazuki Yazawa is a Buddhist priest.
Irish judoka Ben Fletcher is a horticulturist.
American basketball player and two-time gold medalist Angel McCoughtry is a former ice cream shop owner and current Head of Culture at Players TV.
High Jumper, Amy Acuff, is an app developer and an acupuncturist
Irish badminton player Scott Evans is a fashion entrepreneur who works with his partner, Camilla Hosbjerg, the founder of Denmark-based clothing brand Hosbjerg.
What do you think? Should the Olympians get paid as if this is their full-time job?
Share your thoughts below. I’m curious to hear them!
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