Every Country Has A Different Award For Olympic Gold Medalists — Here's How Much They Earn
The 2021 Olympics in Tokyo are underway, and there has been a lot of buzz surrounding the events, the athletes, the village, and, recently, the prizes.
On Monday, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz made history by winning the first-ever gold medal for the Philippines. In honor of her feat, the Filipino government and local businesspeople banded together to award the athlete with a house, a condo, and $660,000.
Congrats!!
When news of cash prizes being awarded to Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medalists hit the internet, many — like me — admitted to never realizing that Olympians are paid outside of sponsorships or brand deals.
So I did some digging to learn just how much each country awards its top-performing athletes. Of the 205 competing countries, here are a few of the most notable cash prizes:
Singapore
Gold: $737,000
Silver: $369,000
Bronze: $184,000
Kazakhstan
Gold: $250,000
Silver: $150,000
Bronze: $75,000
Malaysia
Gold: $236,000
Silver: $71,000
Bronze: $24,000
Italy
Gold: $213,000
Silver: $107,000
Bronze: $71,000
Hungary
Gold: $168,000
Silver: $126,000
Bronze: $96,000
Brazil
Gold: $49,000
Silver: $29,000
Bronze: $20,000
Japan
Gold: $45,000
Silver: $18,000
Bronze: $9,000
United States of America
Gold: $37,500
Silver: $22,500
Bronze: $15,000
South Africa
Gold: $37,000
Silver: $19,000
Bronze: $7,000
Canada
Gold: $16,000
Silver: $12,000
Bronze: $8,000
Australia
Gold: $15,000
Silver: $11,000
Bronze: $7,000
Did any of the prizes surprise you? Or do you think any should be more or less? Let us know in the comments.
And congrats to all the Olympians!
