World Athletics announced that they would pay a prize of $50,000 to gold medal winners at the upcoming Paris Games. Track and field’s governing body is the first to provide prize money at an Olympics.
$2.4 million dollars is being set aside to pay the eventual medalists across the sport’s 48 events. This initiative by World Athletics also includes a firm commitment to extend the prize money to Olympic silver and bronze medal winners at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
Per World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, “The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medalists is a pivotal moment for World Athletics and the sport of athletics as a whole, underscoring our commitment to empowering the athletes and recognizing the critical role they play in the success of any Olympic Games.”
The funds for the awards will come from the Olympic revenue that the International Olympic Committee distributes to World Athletics, and the payment of prize money will depend upon the World Athletics ratification process. Relay teams will split the $50,000 among the team’s participants.
