F
    ForbesWoman

    ForbesWoman

  • The Cost of Raising a Summer Olympian

    By <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blogs.forbes.com/tomvanriper/" target="" title="">Tom Van Riper</a> <br> <br> Maya Lawrence has been fencing for 16 years. The 32-year-old Paris resident first took up the sport as a high school sophomore in Teaneck, N.J., continuing through her years at Princeton University and beyond. <br> <br> She's competed in World Cups and the Pan American Games, but she fell short of the Olympics in her first two tries. Now after taking gold in this year's Pan Am Games in team and individual competitions, Lawrence is on her way to London for the 2012 Games. The trip is a reward for years of sacrifice on the part of Lawrence and her family, both of time and money. <br> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eddf45hikf/building-a-summer-olympian/?utm_source=yahooshine&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=olympians&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">Click here to see pictures of The Cost Of Building a Summer Olympian</a> <br> <br> On the youth level, fencing equipment and practice time weren't terribly expensive, but four to five trips per year to big competitions cost her thousands of dollars. "I'm from Teaneck, a middle-class town," Lawrence says. "It did affect my parents. Once I decided I wanted to go to competitions, they really supported me." <br> <br> These days, the annual cost of Lawrence's training (typically four hours a day, six days a week), equipment, camps and competitions runs about $20,000. The New York Athletic Club, a major supporter of top U.S. fencers, covers much of that, but the biggest financial cost for an adult Olympic hopeful like Lawrence is lost wages. Careers go on hold, sometimes for years. <br> <br> Says Lawrence, who has a master's degree in education from Columbia in addition to her bachelor's from Princeton: "I've stayed away from full-time jobs, it's just too difficult to train." <br> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45ilgl/1-roger-federer/?utm_source=yahooshine&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=olympians&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">The Highest-Paid Olympic Athletes</a> <br> <br> Whether it's fencing, weightlifting, archery, table tennis, or many of the other events that don't get much network airtime, price tags can be high for those who begin training at a young age. Some Olympic aspirants in table tennis start playing at age 6, according to Teodore Gheorghe, chief operating officer of USA Table Tennis. Many take eight to 12 years to perfect their games, spending as much as $15,000 annually on coaches and sparring partners. A top-quality paddle runs $300 and up. Many top prospects travel to China for better competition. <br> <br> USA Weightlifter Kendrick Farris, now 26, started pumping iron at age 11 in his hometown of Shreveport, La. By 12, he was doing national competitions. After Farris tried and failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympics, he doubled down on his training to roughly four hours a day, while shelling out $1,000 a pop for four to five trips per year. "I quit my job, it was all school and training," he says. After setting U.S. records at the 2010 Pan Am Games for the clean and jerk and total weight in the 85 kilogram weight class, Farris is making the trip to London. <br> <br> Families of child gymnasts seeking to develop a contender can cough up $1,000 a month in coaching and travel costs. Those who reach elite status require more. Then there's the time required to chauffeur kids to and from training 300 days a year, several hours per day. The mother of London-bound McKayla Maroney, a 16-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., typically "spent her day on (Interstate) 405," says Steve Penney, CEO of USA Gymnastics. <br> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mhj45imke/introduction-24/?utm_source=yahooshine&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=olympians&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">Homes Of Summer Olympians</a> <br> <br> Want to make it to the Games without draining the family bank account? Try team handball. Or rowing. The national programs for both are traditionally populated by former high school and college jocks looking for a sport in which they can continue to compete. Olympic rower David Banks thought about trying to walk onto the track team at Stanford University in 2001, but opted for the crew team at a friend's suggestion. He did well enough to earn All-Pac 10 honors by his senior season, which got him an invitation to the sport's national training center in Princeton, N.J. Banks deferred for a year, choosing to stay on at Stanford for a master's degree in construction management, but by the spring of 2006 he headed to Princeton. "I pretty much had to throw myself into it, usually six or seven days a week," he says. Winter months meant indoor training on state-of-the art machines that simulate rowing. Costs for trips to competitions are covered, but the real expense is lost wages. <br> <br> Banks, who will be competing in his second Olympics, found himself working part-time at the Princeton University purchasing office as he continued training. Not the usual job for a Stanford grad, but the price for Olympic glory. Most rowers in Princeton, he says, get part-time jobs, and many live rent-free with local families in exchange for odd jobs. "It mostly falls on you to support yourself," he says. <br> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45igdi/1-floyd-mayweather/?utm_source=yahooshine&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=olympians&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="" style="font-size:14.44444465637207px;">The World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes</a> <br> <br> Sometimes, an athlete pursuing an expensive sport can catch a break to save a few bucks. Archery typically costs the family of an aspiring Olympian up to $25,000 annually in coaching, equipment, trips, and practice range time. Success requires a rigorous work ethic of 250 shots a day, six days a week. "It's about becoming as close to a machine as humanly possible," says Teresa Iaconi, spokeswoman for USA Archery and a former coach. But Iaconi relates the story of Ariel Gibilaro, a 17-year-old from North Branford, Conn., who has been shooting competitively for four years. Gibilaro, who missed this year's Olympic cut but who is considered a strong candidate for 2016, got her required 70 feet of shooting space on a neighbor's farm. That allows her to bypass the $9 an hour range fee other pay, a rate that can add up to several thousand dollars a year. <br> <br> Shades of a hurdling Babe Didrikson asking her neighbor to trim his front hedge a few inches so she could stay in sync with those on the rest of the block. Of course, for a modern archer, there's still the matter of $2,000 worth of equipment, $40 to $100 an hour coaching fees, and travel to regional competitions at $3,000 or so a pop. Neighborly assistance or not, training for the Olympics costs a lot more these days. <br> <br> <b>More on Forbes.com</b> <br> <p> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/eddf45hikf/building-a-summer-olympian/?utm_source=yahooshine&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=olympians&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">Click here to see pictures of The Cost Of Building a Summer Olympian</a> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45ilgl/1-roger-federer/?utm_source=yahooshine&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=olympians&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">The Highest-Paid Olympic Athletes</a> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mhj45imke/introduction-24/?utm_source=yahooshine&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=olympians&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">Homes Of Summer Olympians</a> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efkk45jdje/the-first-time-in-companies-provided-revenue-through-advertising-during-the-olympic-games-was-in-athens-in-1896/?utm_source=yahooshine&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=olympians&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">Fun Facts About Olympic Sponsorship</a> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45igdi/1-floyd-mayweather/?utm_source=yahooshine&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=olympians&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">The World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes</a> </p>

  • Survey: Americans Rank Last in Green Lifestyles, Don't Feel Guilty

    If the stereotype of a typical American is an obese, SUV-driving, junk food-scarfing couch potato oblivious to the outsize environmental impact of his consumerist lifestyle, a new National Geographic survey of green attitudes and actions in 17 countries i

  • Being Nice Can Kill You

    I’m talking about what it takes to focus your ferocity and explode in a no-holds-barred attack to escape your assailant who is typically male. In self defense you learn to take control.

  • Which Parent is More Likely to Hand Over Cash to Grown Children?

    Your mother is more likely to have a good sit down chat with you about money, but it’s dad who can be more likely to dole out the cash – for certain things. So says a recent study, Money Across Generations II, released by Ameriprise Financial.

  • America's Female Soldiers: Fighting, but Without Fair Medical Care

    American women are fit to fight. But the military’s ability to keep them healthy? Still pretty flabby.

  • World's 20 Most Powerful Moms

    By <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blogs.forbes.com/jennagoudreau/" target="" title="">Jenna Goudreau</a> <br> <br> We all think our mother is the best. But who's the most powerful mom in the world-managing billions of dollars, entire populations and the little ones? <br> <br> ForbesWoman analyzed the annual list of the world's 100 most powerful women-based on money controlled, decision-making power and multiple measures of influence-and teased out the moms who are at the top of their game. From spheres of government, business, entertainment and philanthropy, these 20 moms rule the roost-and the world. <br> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmj45jffe/worlds-20-most-powerful-moms-2/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="" style="">The World's 20 Most Powerful Moms</a> <br> <br> U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, mom of daughter Chelsea, ranks No. 1. With one of the biggest jobs in the world, Clinton is still a mother first. Two years ago as Chelsea planned to walk down the aisle, Clinton used email to stay abreast of wedding preparations, review photos and offer support. Global diplomacy and duties as a mother-of-the-bride were both "serious, important and stressful" jobs, she said at the time. <br> <br> Power moms must develop unique strategies to succeed in both boardrooms and playrooms. Indra Nooyi (No. 3), chairman and chief of PepsiCo and mom of two, says if her kids call in the middle of a meeting, she takes the call. Sheryl Sandberg (No. 4), chief operating officer of Facebook and mother of two young children, says she leaves everyday at 5:30 to have dinner with her family. <br> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmj45emlj/happiest-jobs-for-working-moms/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="" style="">10 Happiest Jobs For Working Moms</a> <br> <br> Executive Editor of The New York Times, Jill Abramson (No. 10) told Forbes that when her two children were young, she tried to be available and informed on their class work. "I haven't been a workaholic who hasn't been home for the important times-and just about all times are important in family life," she said. "When I was the Washington Bureau Chief, I had a set of my kids' high-school books. I liked to read what they were reading, so that I could talk to them when I got home." <br> <br> Today, Abramson's children are in their twenties, and she is transitioning to no longer having kids in the house. How does she cope? "I have a golden retriever puppy," she noted. "I think for those of us adjusting to an empty nest, after we threw ourselves into raising kids, that a loopy, hard-to-train, irrepressible, affectionate dog is a nice thing in [this period of] life." <br> <br> Many of the moms on the list have publicly acknowledged the difficulty that comes with being a mother and a professional, especially one with a high-octane career. Sandberg told Forbes in 2010 that when she was a new mother, "like everyone else, you try to do everything, and you just do everything badly all the time. When I first was at Facebook, I was definitely feeling way unbalanced and more worried about not seeing my kids. Then, I got my feet wet, got the teams in place, learned what we were doing, and now it feels more balanced." <br> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/wealth/power-women/gallery/angela-merkel/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="" style="">The World's Most Powerful Women</a> <br> <br> Sandberg has also been a champion for other women with or considering children, and warns them not to "leave before they leave." <br> <br> "People start thinking about wanting to have a child," Sandberg explained, "and then think, 'Well, I couldn't possibly have a child with my current schedule. I've got to find ways to cut things or at least stay where I am to make room for this huge obligation.' So, at that moment, those women stop. Fast forward a year or two, maybe three, and you're leaving a baby at home for a job, and you're bored because you've been at the same job for three years too long." <br> <br> She advises women, expecting moms and new moms to "keep your foot on the gas pedal for as long as possible." <br> <br> Christine Lagarde (No. 6), managing director of the International Monetary Fund and mother of two, said when she was interviewed at the Board, it was a board of 24 men. "And that is a message about diversity." Despite the majority of the staff being women, very few were in senior positions. "As is often the case, the higher you go in the hierarchy the fewer women there are." <br> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lml45ghdg/2011-best-cities-for-working-moms/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="" style="">The Best Cities For Working Mothers</a> <br> <br> Lagarde believes it stems from maternity leave, and the mother's ability to stay connected during it and come back after it. "When you ask female employees who did manage to work their way up, they very often had the support of a husband or their parents, or they live in countries where domestic support is relatively easy and cheap," she noted, adding that it's both a cultural and structural issue. <br> <br> And, as we all know, the mother's work at home is incredibly important. Often, it paves the way for her daughter's work outside it. Clinton's mother, Dorothy Rodham, who died in November at age 92, helped her develop into a strong leader. When Clinton was 4-years-old and came home crying over a neighborhood bully, her mom advised, "You have to face things and show them you're not afraid." If Clinton got hit again, "hit her back," her mother counseled. <br> <br> Likewise, mother-of-two Anne Sweeney (No. 19), co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group, told Forbes that her mother, an elementary school teacher, was "smart, strong-willed and inspirational." Said Sweeney: "I remember when I was a kid, she really pushed me hard. I was studying for a Latin test, and I looked at her and I said, 'You think I'm smarter than I am.' She said, 'You don't know how smart you are.'" <br> <br> "It was such a great thing for a parent to say that," Sweeney continued. "Because it's motivating, and you sit back and think, 'Well, maybe I can do this. Maybe I can do more.'" <br> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmj45jffe/worlds-20-most-powerful-moms-2/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">Click here to see the rest of the World's 20 Most Powerful Moms</a> <br> <br> <b>More on Forbes.com</b> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmj45jffe/worlds-20-most-powerful-moms-2/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">The World's 20 Most Powerful Moms</a> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lml45ghdg/2011-best-cities-for-working-moms/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">The Best Cities For Working Mothers</a> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmj45emlj/happiest-jobs-for-working-moms/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">10 Happiest Jobs For Working Moms</a> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/wealth/power-women/gallery/angela-merkel/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">The World's Most Powerful Women</a> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmj45idgd/sheryl-sandberg-3/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">The Most Powerful Women In Tech</a> <br> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/feed45fk/20-most-powerful-women-in-politics/?utm%20campaign=yahooshine&partner=yahooshine#gallerycontent" target="" title="">20 Most Powerful Women In Politics</a>

  • How Linda Evangelista's Child Support Compares with Other Celebs--And the Rest of Us

    When super model Linda Evangelista and billionaire Francois Henri-Pinault entered the small family courtroom Monday afternoon to establish child support payments, they were all smiles. When they walked out ten minutes later, it was more of the same.

  • The Top 10 Cities for Green Jobs

    If you’re a job seeker in Boston, Chicago or L.A. with experience in energy efficiency, environmental compliance or sustainable supply chain, you may be in luck. Those are three of the top cities for green jobs right now.

  • Slipping Back into the Dark Ages: Arizona's Woman Governor Plays God with Women's Rights

    As I scanned the weekend postings on Forbes Woman online, I was puzzled by the lack of any discussion on the “Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act,” signed into law by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on May 5th, 2012.

  • What Moms Really Want for Mother's Day

    It turns out that what dads and kids think moms want for Mother’s Day doesn’t match up with what they actually want.

  • Not Married Yet? Look for the New Mr. Right

    When young women ask me how to have a successful career and a family I tell them to pick the right guy. Easier said than done – especially if you don’t know what to look for.

  • Stand Up! and Other Easy Ways to Lengthen Your Life

    With a third of your day spent at work, making a few simple changes to your office routine may make all the difference. Health and wellness experts offer easy ways to force yourself up, out of that desk chair and into a longer, healthier life.

  • The Most Dangerous U.S. Cities for Women

    To calculate cities where women are at risk for becoming victims of both violent crimes and sexual assault, we analyzed data from the FBI Uniform Crime Report, which tallies crime data for each of the country’s metropolitan statistical areas.

  • Why Missing Child Cases like Isabel Mercedes Celis Are so Difficult to Solve

    More than 150 law enforcement officials and members of the community are helping follow leads and search for a missing girl, but as far as I can conclude, they are coming up with absolutely nothing. How is this possible?

  • Why Autistic Children Are Bullied More -- and Bully in Return

    A new study finds, kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have an even harder time with bullying, being many times more likely than their neurotypical siblings to have experienced it in their lifetimes.

  • The Get Lean Diet: Baby Steps to Healthy Weight Loss

    Wellness expert Kathy Freston, bestselling author of Veganist and Quantum Wellness, offers an easy way to tackle weight loss and keep the pounds off for good.

  • Does Getting Married Help Women Get Ahead?

    "Choose your husband carefully.” When Marie Claire asked Sallie Krawcheck, former head of Global Wealth and Investment Management at Bank of America, about work-life balance, that’s the key piece of advice she says she gives to female professionals.

  • The Worst Cities for Allergies in 2012

    Rresearch firm IBISWorld says the average allergy sufferer in the U.S. spends an estimated $83 a year on over-the-counter allergy medications. It turns out that whether and how much you suffer may hinge on where you call home.

  • Rear Seats Impede Child Safety in Many Cars

    Automakers need to rethink seat designs for child safety. Anchors that secure child restraints are too difficult to reach in many vehicles and make installation unnecessarily complicated, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

  • The Fatigue Solution: How to Increase Your Energy in Eight Easy Steps

    Eva Cwynar, M.D. developed a simple guide to help you figure out why you’re tired and how to get your energy back. From easy lifestyle changes to knowing what to ask your doctor, she offers these eight steps to kick fatigue for good.