How much do pro athletes get paid?

[aaronk]

I did a post on my blog back in January (Go Pro, or No?) about whether Kaylin Whitney was going to turn Pro.
(This was before she did, but based on an article that said she might!)

Anyway, a guy just sent me a comment on that post, asking how much I thought pro's got paid----beyond Usain Bolt!

I told him I didn't know, but that I thought top pro's like SRR, Felix, Simpson & Suhr probably got good appearance fees, first class airfare, first class hotel room, etc.

I also said I thought the lesser (or newbie) pro's---like Whitney----got just the airfare & hotel---and maybe not even then first class!

I said I thought it worked like a corporation, where you start as a mail clerk, then work your way up the ladder.

I added that it was probably up to your agent too.
What quality product (the athlete) does the agent have to sell?
And how good is the agent him/herself??

Question: Does anyone know the payout format for pro T&F athletes----below Usain Bolt??

[Run and Jump]

Whatever someone is willing to pay them

[aaronk]

Whatever someone is willing to pay them

So you're saying there's no set or even average payout?
I can't imagine some meet director would pay as much to a 17 year old HS kid as they would to someone like Felix or Simpson....or Rupp or Gatlin.

Is there a MNIMUM pro's MUST be paid??
(I'm not talking about their first signing with a shoe company, or whatever.
I'm talking about getting paid for the various meets they compete in.)

[lonewolf]

Beyond high profile, big bucks cases, presumably, as in the rest of the world, compensation is confidential to employer and employee.

[Atticus]

Beyond high profile, big bucks cases, presumably, as in the rest of the world, compensation is confidential to employer and employee.

And probably varies EXTREMELY, from meet to meet, from athlete to athlete. I'd guess that fewer than we imagine can make a decent living as a 'pro' and must supplement their income elsewhere, which is why USATF support grants are so vital.

[aaronk]

I imagine that "supplemental" income Atticus mentioned includes the following:

modeling
appearance in ads for shoes & whatever else
appearance fees for speeches & autograph signings
name used for whatever

Then you have folks like.....

Maggie Vessey (has her own fashion line)
Alexi Pappas (is making a movie...and already made one!)
Nick Symmonds (wrote a book)
Brenda Martinez (runs a summer training camp for young girls)

[26mi235]

I would be shocked if Kalyin Whitney was not getting a pretty substantial package, although some of it may be in terms of incentives. I suspect that there is the hope that over the next six years she develops in to a star at the 100/200, and if she does she is worth a lot. So, is a one-in-ten chance of real stardom and a one in four of high-level performance enough for the likes of Nike to take a chance. A good package up front is probably worth it to have the 'right of first refusal' over the next two Olympic cycles.

[aaronk]

I would be shocked if Kalyin Whitney was not getting a pretty substantial package, A good package up front

THAT is what I'm wondering!
Does this "up front" package INCLUDE whatever he/she gets per individual meet.

Whitney as example.
Say she DID get a substantial up front package when she signed her pro contract.

Does that INCLUDE whatever she needs to compete in X or Y meet?
I'm talking airfare, hotel, per diem for food, travel to and from the hotel to the stadium and airport.
Or is that SEPARATE FROM the up front package deal??

[zues2014]

It still baffles me how Whitney gets into a DL meet when she struggled in last place at the meet in Eugene.It would be a travesty if she gets into race in Zurich or Brussels.

[gh]

"lesser" athletes are frequently part of a package-deal. If you want Athlete A from somebody's stable, and they're that important to you, you'll take Athletes B and C. Or even X-Y-Z if A is important enough.

Basic law of supply & demand.

[zues2014]

I have still yet to see a single race this year by Whitney for me to get remotely excited by her.

[aaronk]

She finished 2nd to VCB in a race in China (?) in 23.06.

First of all, not many 17 year old US HS girls have EVER run 23.06.

Second of all, how many US HS 17 year old girls can say they came in 2nd to VCB....EVER??

[beebee]

I have still yet to see a single race this year by Whitney for me to get remotely excited by her.

Of course you didn't notice the many Italian fill in's in Rome.

Hypocrite.

[polevaultpower]

Lodging at a meet and appearance fees are paid by that meet. Some meets help some athletes with travel. Most athletes are not getting first class airfare. Shoe company contracts tend to be heavy on gear and bonuses and light on cash.

USATF has some support for top athletes: http://www.usatf.org/groups/HighPerformance/

The money varies widely from event to event. Sprinters typically make pretty good money. Distance runners have more options for sponsors and year-round prize money road races. Only a few field event athletes are making decent money. Jenn Suhr is not getting rich, even as an Olympic gold medalist. Most US pole vaulters that are "sponsored" are mostly getting gear and bonuses from their shoe sponsor. The USATF Foundation has stepped up and helped bridge the gap for some field eventers.

[jazzcyclist]

Of course you didn't notice the many Italian fill in's in Rome.

Hypocrite.

In order for the hypocrisy argument to stick with jammin, you probably need to point to the filler athletes in last month's Kingston meet.