The amount of money that Simone Biles and the US gymnastics team get for gold medal wins has been shared by online news platforms. The sum has sparked

discussion among social media users for a specific reason.
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News outlets have released reports outlining how much money competing athletes earn for winning medals at the Paris Olympics. Since finding out how much Simone Biles and the rest of the US gymnastics team have made from the gold medals they have won, many were taken aback, with some expressing that the amount is not enough.
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Reportedly, while the International Olympic Committee does not hand out prize money for the medals, the competitors’ countries reward their athletes with cash bonuses.
Based on information tabulated by CNBC from the national Olympic committees, local reports, and sports associations, the US sits at number ten on the list of Olympic medal bonuses.

The US Women’s Gymnast team competing in this year’s Paris Olympics, posted on July 30, 2024 | Source: Instagram/olympics and usagym
The country ranks below Hong Kong, which is currently number one on the list as the country that offers its athletes the highest payouts for their Olympic victories. Their gold medal payout totals $768,000.

Simone Biles celebrating her gold medal win during the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final in Paris, France on July 30, 2024 | Source: Getty ImagesIn certain cases, CNBC reports that some athletes are gifted additional winnings like cars and apartments from private companies and governments, either instead of cash or in addition to it.What’s interesting and what has become a point of contention online is the fact that US gymnasts who are competing in the trials do not get paid, unlike other professional athletes.Furthermore, US athletes, in particular, do not receive money for participating in the Olympics. However, their medal winners do get prize money.According to Forbes, the US will pay all its athletes who win gold medals a $37,500 bonus, which is sourced from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.Based on the same outlet’s compilation of the highest-paid female athletes in the world, which they calculated last year (2023), iconic gymnast Simone Biles sits at number 16 on the list of 20 female athletes.

Simone Biles at the Paris Olympics, posted on July 30, 2024 | Source:
Instagram/olympics and usagym
She made a total of $7.1 million by the time the scores were tabulated. $7 million stems from what Forbes dubs “off-field” activities and the other $0.1 million was made “on-field.” Biles tied with Indian badminton player P.V. Sindhu.

Vivian Kong posing with her gold medal during the Women’s Epée Individual medal ceremony in Paris, France on July 27, 2024 | Source: Getty Images
Another comment from someone on X reminded people of the fact that competing in the Olympics means more than just earning a large payout. They expressed, “Playing for your country is about Pride not Money…[sic]”