World Athletics Introduces Prize Money for Olympic Gold Medallists: Mixed Reactions and Controversy

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe made headlines on April 10th with a groundbreaking announcement that Olympic gold medalists at the Paris 2024 Games and all medallists from LA28 would receive prize money. This move, offering $50,000 to gold medalists, marked the first time a sports federation has introduced prize money at the Olympics, funded by the International Olympic Committee’s revenue share allocation to World Athletics.

However, the decision has sparked a heated debate, with the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) criticizing the move, stating that putting a price on an Olympic gold medal goes against the principle of solidarity and may divert funds from governing bodies’ essential work. The debate was reignited by track sensation Noah Lyles, who shared ASOIF’s statement on social media.

While some athletes, like Karsten Warholm, see the prize money as motivation, others question its impact on the integrity of the Olympics. Critics argue that the money could be better spent elsewhere, and some believe that athletes who bring in revenue for the sport should not receive their own earnings back as prizes.

Despite the backlash, athletes in the USA stand to benefit from the prize money, with gold medalists earning $37,500. Supporters of the decision argue that honoring athletes is commendable, but development and integrity should remain the sport’s focus. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how World Athletics will address the concerns raised by its critics.