The Paris Olympics was a highly successful one for Team USA. They finished as the nation with the most medals. The total tally was a huge 126, which was completely at a different level as China finished second with 91 medals. Thus, the athletes deserve special remuneration for their efforts to uphold the pride of the nation. Now, through outside sources like Alexis Ohanian and Shannon Sharpe, they have the opportunity to earn a bit more. World Athletics also promised track stars $50,000 for winning the gold.

Athletes who won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics were paid a mere $37,500. This figure created a lot of stir as many believed that it did not justify the efforts they put in. Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, the hosts of Nightcap, felt the same. “Hey, Noah Lyles, if you win the 100 meter gold, me and Ocho $25,000 apiece,” Shannon said. This amount was also for all the track athletes, provided they brought the gold medal home. They also proceeded to promise any American athlete who won a gold medal and broke a world record a cash prize of $50,000. But now Grant Holloway has come forward to ask for his share, which was not given to him.

Flamingo won the gold medal for the US at the 110-meter hurdling event in the Paris Olympics. This was the only honor missing from his cabinet, as he had won everything else in both indoor and outdoor events. The three-time world champion completed the race in 12.99 seconds. It was quite an impressive feat. Now he wants his reward from the Nightcap hosts.

In a post on X, Holloway said, “Good morning from Switzerland family! So @NightcapShow,@ochocinco & @ShannonSharpe.. we doing anything about this gold medal or was y’all just capping? Asking for some friends..” According to him, the fact that he won the gold was enough to secure $50,000. But that was not what was promised at all.

The promise was to give $50000 to athletes who would win the gold but also break a world record. This is why Bobby Finke, who preserved the USA’s 120-year record of male swimmers winning the gold, by winning one himself, got the amount promised. Although Holloway’s feat is by no means unimpressive, he did not break a world record. Thus, there was no way he was getting that money. However, the athlete might not be completely wrong either.

Sharpe had also promised $25,000 to anyone from the track team who would win the gold medal. As far as we know, he has not kept this promise as 14 gold medallists have emerged from the track team. This has also not been the first time that someone has demanded Sharpe pay out the $50,000 to an athlete. Fans also did that after the victory of Cole Hocker.

Fans and icons demand Shannon Sharpe pay up their Paris Olympics promise!

Cole Hocker won the 1500m race with a time of 3:27.65. While this set a new Olympic record, it didn’t break a world record. That is still held by Hicham El Guerrouj set in 1998. When fans started demanding Shannon Sharpe to pay Hocker, he came out with a tweet that told them all that he didn’t owe the long-distance runner anything. He said, “Was it WR? I SPECIFICALLY SAID WORLD RECORD!!!!!”. The thought that Sharpe would pay every single American gold medallist $50,000 is completely absurd, as there were a total of 40 gold medalists. The $25,000 promise applies here too.

When Gabby Thomas came on the Nightcap podcast, she said, “I think, I think definitely. I think y’all are going to have to open up your wallets a little bit because I do think we’re going to see. I hate to say it, but I do think, I mean, I think the four by one girls, we can definitely (24:36) challenge a world record.” While they did pay Gabby $25,000, she did win three gold medals. So, she technically deserves $75,000. Will that be kept? It’s not known as of now. Not just that, Sharpe will have to pay out the $50,000 to some more athletes too, as some of them have actually broken a world record.

The US men’s 4×100 swimming relay finished at a time of 3:37.43 seconds, breaking the record. The women’s medley team also did the same thing with 3:49.63 seconds. In athletics, the 4x400m mixed relay team broke the record with 3:07.41 seconds. Obviously, one cannot forget Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s crazy feat of 50.37 seconds either, where she broke her own record for the sixth time. In sport climbing, Sam Watson completed the feat in 4.74 seconds, breaking the previous record with just 0.1 seconds.

Thus, all these athletes deserve the $50,000. The total figure ends up in $250,000. Combine it with the $25,000 promised to the track team, it equates to $600,000. Will Shannon Sharpe pay this enormous amount to every athlete he owes it to? What do you think?