Do Olympians pay their own way?

Olympians generally do not pay their own way for the actual Olympic Games themselves, but they do pay a significant portion of their own expenses during the four-year training and qualification period leading up to the Games, which surprises many people. Once an athlete officially qualifies and is selected to their national team, their National Olympic Committee covers major Games-time costs including flights to the host city, accommodation and meals in the Olympic Village, team uniforms, medical care, and accreditation. For example, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee covers these costs for all Team USA athletes. However, the journey to get there is expensive and often self-funded, especially in the United States where there is no government ministry of sport like in China or the UK. Athletes typically pay for coaching, gym memberships, physiotherapy, equipment, travel to national and international qualifying competitions, and living expenses, which can total $30,000 to $100,000 per year depending on the sport. Some athletes work second jobs, rely on family support, crowdfunding, or small stipends from their sport's governing body, which may only be $500 to $2,000 per month for non-medalists. Top athletes with endorsements from Nike, Adidas, or Speedo can cover costs, but many lesser-known Olympians in sports like rowing, wrestling, and track struggle financially and do pay their own way until they make the team.