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≡ ANGRY ATHLETE REACTIONS ≡
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) said in a statement posted last Thursday on the IOC’s Athlete365 Instagram page to more fully explain her comments to SportNation NZ about not paying athletes at the Olympic Games:
“I have always said that I don’t believe in paying athletes prize money at the Olympic Games, as this would benefit only a very small number of athletes.
“I do believe our role as the IOC is to find ways to directly support a large number of athletes on their journey to becoming Olympians, at the Olympics and as they transition into life after sport.”
She had told reporter Alex Chapman, “I don’t believe in paying athletes” at the Games.
Either way, the Athlete365 post was greeted with a wall of unhappiness, notably from two star swimmers.
Australia’s Cam McEvoy, the Paris Olympic men’s 50 m Freestyle gold medalist and now world-record holder, replied:
“If every athlete who competes at the Olympics is paid $10k as an appearance fee, and every gold/silver/bronze earns 100k/60k/25k (including individuals on teams) then that would be around $180m – which is only 1.5% of the quadrennial revenue ($12 billion) the IOC generates.
“For reference the NBA has a 50% revenue share with the players. You can have prize money and pay all athletes to help those who aren’t are the absolute top and still be extremely comfortable with your boatloads of revenue.”
South African swim star Roland Schoeman, now 45, who won three World Championships golds in the 50 m Free (1) and 50 m Butterfly (2) and three Olympic medals (1-1-1) between 2001-07, ripped back with a long screed:
“@officialkirstycoventry this is exactly why so many athletes feel abandoned by the Olympic movement.
“You say prize money only benefits a small number of athletes.
“Olympic medals benefit a small number of athletes.
“World records benefit a small number of athletes.
“Scholarships benefit a small number of athletes.
“Athlete365 opportunities benefit a small number of athletes.
“So what exactly is the point you’re trying to make?
“The IOC generates billions.
“Broadcasters generate billions.
“Sponsors receive billions in value.
“Host cities spend billions.
“Everyone around the Olympic movement seems to benefit financially except the athletes themselves.
“And now we’re being told athletes should be grateful because there are “other ways” they are supported?
“Great.
“Show us.
“Show us the Athlete365 numbers.
“How many athletes applied?
“How many got accepted?
“How many got rejected?
“How much money actually reached athletes?
“How much was spent on administration?
“I’ve applied for Athlete365 programmes for years. Business. Marketing. Media. Career transition.
“Not once did I receive an opportunity.
“Maybe I wasn’t selected.
“Fine.
“Then show us the criteria.
“Show us the outcomes.
“Show us the transparency.
“What makes this so disappointing is that this isn’t coming from a lifelong bureaucrat.
“It’s coming from a former swimmer.
“Someone who received opportunities.
“Someone who received support.
“Someone who knows exactly what athletes sacrifice.
“Yet somehow today’s athletes are still being told that “the experience” should be enough.
“The Olympic movement was built by athletes.
“Today it feels like athletes are the only people not allowed to share in the value they create.
“And the most alarming part?
“The IOC has become so detached that it now says this part out loud.”
He added in a later post, “We all call for the resignation of @officialkirstycoventry and the board members of the @iocofficial @athlete365″
British sprint star C.J. Ujah, the 2017 Diamond League men’s 100 m winner, chimed in with “This response feels dishonest and out of touch. Athletes deserve transparency, fair support, and leadership that truly understands their sacrifices — and many people are starting to question whether you’re the right person for the role”
American triple jump star Will Claye, a two-time World Indoor champ added, “You call the Olympic journey a ‘career’… in what career do you not receive any compensation for your work??”
Observed: Coventry did not rule out an honorarium or other program that would pay athletes as Olympic participants. The Sports Examiner made the case for this policy in a July 2025 column.
Coventry said in her SportNationNZ interview, “I was an Olympic Solidarity scholarship holder; without that money, I’m not sure I would have been as successful. And I’m so grateful for that.”
And as Coventry noted, the IOC does pay athletes – a total of 2,150 scholarship holders in 2024 at a cost of $17.6 million – through its Olympic Solidarity program, which distributes money to support athletes and the National Olympic Committees which help send them to the Games.
The next step may be to expand that to everyone who makes it to the Games. Her recent comments have certainly raised the clamor for it.
¶
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