Paris 2024 Olympic Gold Medalists to Win $50,000 in Decision by World Athletics

World Athletics have become the first international federation to offer prize money to athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in what they are calling a “landmark decision.” 

Winners in the 48 track and field events at the Games will receive $50,000 as well as their prized gold medal, “financially rewarding athletes for achieving the pinnacle of sporting success,” as World Athletics explained. The move also promises to reward for gold medalists at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with prize money also for silver and bronze medalists (in Paris, only gold medal winners get the additional reward).

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented: “The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medallists is a pivotal moment for World Athletics and the sport of athletics as a whole, underscoring our commitment to empowering the athletes and recognising the critical role they play in the success of any Olympic Games.”

Winning athletes will be paid $50,000 upon ratification of their achievement by World Athletics, including passing anti-doping tests. Relay events will share that prize money between the runners. 

The International Olympic Committee doesn’t pay any prize money to medalists, though individual countries choose whether they offer a prize if their athletes in any discipline win a medal. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, US athletes were awarded $37,500 for gold, while Team GB athletes received no direct prize money. Several countries offered six-figure bonuses for gold medalists, including Italy, Kazakhstan and Singapore.

Currently only World Athletics has offered this prize money for athletes in their 48 track and field events, and it’s not extended to other sports. These events include all track running from 100m to 10,000m, all jumping events and throwing events, heptathlon and decathlon, plus marathon running and walking. 

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games there are many hopefuls who will stand in their respective starting positions, hoping to win the ultimate prize of an Olympic gold medal, which now comes with an extra incentive. 

Medal image from Paris 2024