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The projected median annual salary of a professional athlete is $26,407 (source: www.salary.com). However this figure greatly varies depending on the sport, winnings, cost of living, and sponsorship. Unless you're already a star who benefits from endorsement contracts, you're on your own. The expenses associated with training for the Olympic Trials or Olympics can be daunting! Athletes are responsible for the costs associated with training, travel, needed professional services, business expenses, not to mention the cost of living and sometimes the cost of supporting a family.
In addition, athletes do not have health, dental, or eye coverage! Their training expenses include supplemental nutritional needs & road and track equipment. Elite runners train 4-6 hours per day and run more than 100 miles per week and require frequent shoe replacements. An estimated cost of training expenses including nutritional supplements and equipment is $24,240 per year. Runners also require professional services such as a professional coach who will coach them to successfully compete at the national level. Professional services also include sports health to insure that runners remain healthy, have speedy recoveries, and remain injury-free. Professional services cost as much as $9,000 per year. Runners are also responsible for paying race entrance fees, flights or gas costs, lodging, and other travel costs. This cost the runners anywhere from $11,045 to $14,865. These costs add up very quickly! In many other countries, athletes can depend on financial support from clubs, national governing bodies, national Olympic committees, and sports foundations. However, in the U.S., only 5-7% of the U.S. Olympic Committee's revenues go directly to athletes to pay living and training expenses.
You can help by:
- making a one-time donation
- making a monthly donation
- becoming a sponsor
- providing in-kind services (for more information contact us)
- volunteering your services
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