The 2024 Summer Olympics are in full swing,
and as athletes continue to compete for the gold,
we're learning that medals aren't the only incentive for coming
out on top in Paris.
Forbes reports that while the International Olympic Committee doesn't offer
financial incentives for top performing athletes,
individual countries do. For example,
the US reportedly offers gold medal winners a nearly $38,000
bonus.
While USA TODAY reports that medalists can receive around 23,000
bucks and bronze medalists can earn 15,000.
So far, the list of gold medal winners from Team
USA includes woman's gymnast Simone Biles,
Jade Carey, Jordan Child, SUNY Lee and Hesley Rivera.
Fencing * Lee Kieffer also won gold.
Plus, the men of the US swimming team nabbed the
top prize for the freestyle relay on July 27th.
But the reported $38,000 bonus is just what the US
shells out.
For its athletes. For some countries,
the bonuses are said to be much higher.
Hong Kong, which competes independently from China,
reportedly gives its gold medal winners a whopping $768,000,
while silver medalists can earn up to 380,000,
while Israel and Serbia will shell out paychecks in the
$200,000 range for its top athletes.