Tennis Greats Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova Call for Olympic Medallists to Receive Prize Money

Tennis legends Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova have joined forces to advocate for Olympic medallists to receive prize money across all sports. This call comes after World Athletics announced that it would be the first sport to offer Olympic prize money at the Paris 2024 Games, with winners in the 48 disciplines set to receive $50,000.

Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, expressed her excitement about the move, stating that athletes have long been the only ones not making money from the Olympics. She emphasized that being a top athlete is a full-time job and that the days of amateurism are over.

Becker, who won singles gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, echoed Navratilova’s sentiments, highlighting that athletes should not come last when it comes to earning from their hard work and dedication.

In addition to their stance on Olympic prize money, Navratilova and Becker also voiced their objections to Saudi Arabia hosting the next three editions of the WTA finals. Navratilova criticized the decision, stating that going to Saudi Arabia is a highly political move and expressing her disappointment in players who choose not to take a stand against it.

As the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards take place in Madrid, the conversation around athlete compensation and the intersection of sports and politics continues to evolve. Navratilova and Becker’s advocacy sheds light on the importance of recognizing and rewarding the efforts of Olympic athletes on a global stage.