Olympians going for gold juggle day jobs to bring in some green

Many U.S. Olympians competing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games are balancing their athletic pursuits with demanding day jobs as attorneys, baristas, realtors, dentists, and other professionals, highlighting the financial challenges facing elite athletes even after reaching the pinnacle of their sports. This balancing act reflects a broader reality that while some of the best-known athletes earn millions from sponsorships, they represent the exception rather than the norm in the Olympic movement. American curler Korey Dropkin, who won a silver medal in mixed doubles curling, works as a full-time realtor in Duluth, Minnesota, while his partner Cory Thiesse serves as a wastewater tester. Similarly, fellow U.S. curler Tara Peterson maintains a career as a dentist at Isaacson Gentle Dentistry in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Athletes from other countries also face similar circumstances; Mexico's Regina Martínez, the country's first Olympic cross-country skier, works as an emergency room doctor in Miami and even walked dogs to finance her Olympic journey. The International Olympic Committee acknowledges that a significant proportion of Winter Olympic athletes balance elite training with academic and professional pursuits, noting that the IOC itself does not award prize money to medalists. The financial structure of Olympic sports creates these challenges, with national Olympic bodies offering limited incentives. The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee provides medal bonuses—$37,500 for gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze—but these fall short of covering training and living expenses for many athletes. While some initiatives have emerged to address this, such as Ross Stevens' pledge to give every U.S. Olympian $200,000 in financial benefits, the reality remains that many athletes struggle financially. The disparity is stark when comparing top-earning athletes like snowboarder Chloe Kim, who earns millions annually, to those in less visible sports who must work multiple jobs to support their Olympic dreams.