Every track and field athlete shares a passion for running, but let’s be honest: can you keep pushing yourself when the money isn’t there? The reality is, probably not. A 27-year-old athlete with three NCAA championships summed it up perfectly, “I love running. I would do it whether or not I was getting paid!” But is that a fair expectation? The answer is no, not really. Even Noah Lyles has called it—track and field is a “dying sport” (tough words, right?)

Track and field may offer thrilling moments, especially during the Olympics, but when it comes to financial rewards, it just doesn’t measure up to the big leagues like the NBA, NFL, or MLB. For instance, World Athletics offers $50k to gold medalists at the Paris Olympics, which, while impressive, is a small fraction of the millions that athletes in other sports are earning. Recently, the same NCAA champion from Soldotna, Alaska, opened up about her struggles with the financial side of the sport this year, shedding light on the challenges athletes face when their passion doesn’t pay the bills.

The real cost of competing at the elite level

Allie Ostrander was on the cusp of making Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics, but just missed the cut. She fell short of qualifying for the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase final in Eugene, Oregon, with her personal best of 9:22 coming agonizingly close to the Olympic qualifying mark of 9:23. While that was undoubtedly a tough setback, Allie hasn’t slowed down. She’s stayed active, even launching a YouTube channel where she offers a glimpse into her life and shares vlogs about her journey as a professional runner. In a recent update, Allie got candid about her earnings this year, shedding light on the financial reality for many track and field athletes.

She talked about a race she competed in, the Alpine Bank Turkey Trot. “I didn’t expect there to be any prize money, because it was a local race, but it’s Boulder, so there was. I won this race, and it was short, so I ran 14:37, but that converted to 16:15 for a 5K and got $200, which was pretty nice. The prize money went through five on this one, so I was like, ‘We’ve got bronze-level World Athletics events that only go through three.’ I feel like they need to take notes from Alpine Bank Turkey!” So, yeah, that was a nice win, but when Allie shared the total amount she made in prize money this year, things got a bit more real.

“My grand total of all the prize money I won throughout the whole year came out to $8,743.67, which is not a ton,” she said. And when do you add up her expenses? That’s where it gets tough. “I also wanted to mention that I spent about $7,500 on travel this year,” she shared. “I have sponsors who help me cover that cost. But if someone doesn’t have sponsors, winning prize money just negates how much you spent on travel, accommodations, and race entry fees. The prize money you win at a lot of track, cross, and trail races really doesn’t do a whole lot if you’re having to pay for everything yourself.”

This remains quite unpalatable for so many track and fielders, most of whom toil day and night, exercise, and compete with all their might, but can hardly make a decent living. Then there is no reason why track stars have to look for other ways of making an income to survive.

The untold story of track and field stars hustling to survive

Track and field isn’t exactly a gold mine. While athletes in sports like basketball and football enjoy regular paychecks from their teams, track, and field athletes have to hustle for sponsorships, prize money, and other freelance opportunities. Sounds manageable, right? Well, not really. Unlike other sports, track sponsorships come with strings attached, with bonuses only awarded if certain performance goals are met. These contracts are often shrouded in secrecy, leaving us with little insight into how much money many athletes receive.

Prize money is another source of income, but it’s not life-changing unless you’re consistently finishing at the top. On top of that, appearance fees for major events provide another avenue for earnings, but for many athletes, these are not enough to secure financial stability. Despite all the hard work, the reality is that most track and field athletes live paycheck to paycheck, constantly hustling to make ends meet.

That’s why programs like Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track (GST) are such a game-changer. GST is investing a total of $12.6 million per year in prize money for its 48 core “GST Racers.” These athletes not only receive base pay but also have access to prize money, marketing support, and other benefits. Win an event? That’s $100,000 straight into your pocket. Finish eighth? You still walk away with $10,000. This kind of financial security is a huge step up compared to the Paris Olympics’ prize structure.

Then there’s Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos Meet, which is specifically for women in track and field. Winners can take home $60,000—double what is offered in the Diamond League finale. This shift in compensation could help athletes focus solely on their craft without needing a second job to make ends meet.

However, for many athletes, second jobs remain a harsh reality. Erin Brown, a GCU runner, once posted a video of a track star who had set a world-leading time, only to return to cleaning restaurants to pay the bills. It hit home for many. In 2017, Bermudian long jumper Tyrone Smith jumped a world-leading distance, then went straight to his job selling cars, sand still clinging to his body. “The greatest challenge I’ve faced is financing my career,” he said. His story isn’t unique. For many, it’s a painful truth: the grind on the track often isn’t enough to cover the grind of life.