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Do they make money on the win? I thought they made money on the brand deals they get after the win.

Often countries pay their athletes for some achievements. For example, in Latvia, IIRC, if you finish in one of the first six places, you get some monetary bonus.

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I think it is very small. But they make a lot on the brand deals and advertisements.

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In Latvia I think it was around 140K EUR for gold.

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Yes, but the other deals make you millions.

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Depends on how popular you are. Let's say, in winter sports, Latvians regularly get medals in bobsleigh, but they live from salaries and national bobsleigh team need additional sponsorship in top of money from local Olympic committee and Bobsleigh federation (which gets money from government) to survive. Some top guys recently even left the team for money reasons.

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Most athletes are not rich if they dont win.

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In most sports they aren't too rich even if they win. Olympics are once 4 years for them, rest of events are not too popular to get too big sponsorships even if you are champion.

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Well, in the major sports or popular ones. Most become coaches and can live off of their fame.

Noah Lyles winning gold in 100 meters will be a very rich man

Of course the 100 meter final is the signature event in terms of ratings

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Running/Sprinting in general is pretty popular.

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It would be ideal if they got all money from advertising for Pepsi Cola instead. But they do get a lot of money from taxpayers as a gift.

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That’s the case for American athletes

They get zero taxpayer money as a reward. Maybe indirectly for training but not for winning medals

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Thats what I thought. When I was younger, I was amazed at this. But they become rich by other ways. Especially just going around to places to talk.

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Yes

Endorsement and exhibition money

Track and field athletes especially sprinter travel all over the globe

Usain Bolt is a millionaire for this reason

Same with Carl Lewis

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