The road to Paris is a perilous one and for more than one reason. While the competition for a spot in the national team is understandably steep for track and field stars, other factors are making it difficult for athletes to put their bid to be on Team USA for the upcoming Olympics. For the likes of Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, the financial aspects are becoming an unforeseen hurdle on their journey to the French capital that none had previously accounted for.

Only weeks ago, Kenny Bednarek took to social media to state how the high expenses of travel are making it difficult for him to bring his family to see him perform. His grievance found support from the reigning world champion Lyles but a viable solution to the problem couldn’t be chanced upon. Even now, it seems like this persistent issue is the biggest roadblock for athletes to reach the grand stage in less than one month.

Major concern lurks under the radar for track and field stars

USATF, the apex governing body for all track and field activities in the USA, announced that winners at the US Olympic Team Trials will be awarded cash prizes for their efforts. However, the revealed amount took the community by surprise, with a total of $11,000 being announced for the first-place finishers, while eighth-place finishers were announced to be eligible to receive $1,100.

With the competition spread over 10 days, the athletes will have to reach Eugene at least 2-3 days before the tournament, to prepare for the same in the best possible way. Now, considering the average hotel charge in Eugene is around $2,100 for two weeks, it would mean athletes will have to hustle up a pretty penny to afford the stay.

On the other hand, the possibility of winning a place in the first eight competitors also isn’t a sanguine prospect for all the participants in the team trials. With this in mind, many fans and athletes would be right to think that the USATF is making it almost impossible for the stars to partake in the Olympic Team Trials. However, the troubles don’t end just there.

Tales of troublesome affairs cast a dark shadow

It also came to light last month that the country’s top track stars were being forced to pay a hefty participation fee to get their names on the list for the Track and Field Team Trials, scheduled for later this month. Even the likes of Noah Lyles weren’t immune to the surprising norm and fans couldn’t hold back on their surprise once the matter became public knowledge.

On top of that, only the biggest stars, being able to afford sponsors, didn’t make things any easier for the lesser-known athletes to fuel their Paris dreams. Now, as the team trials inch closer, fans hope things get sorted out as soon as possible for the benefit of the athletes as well as bolstering the USA’s hopes of hauling more golds on the bank of Seine.