For much of its history, the Olympic Games stood firm on the principle of amateurism. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, himself cautioned against the encroachment of “gain and professionalism,” fearing it would corrupt the Games’ spirit. This amateur ideal meant that, officially, athletes were not supposed to profit from their sport if they wished to compete on the Olympic stage.
This principle was enshrined in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Olympic Charter, which until 1986, dictated that only amateur athletes could participate. Perhaps the most poignant example of this rigid stance is the case of Jim Thorpe. Despite winning gold medals in both the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Olympics, Thorpe was stripped of his achievements when it emerged he had earned money playing semi-professional baseball prior to the Games. Similarly, Finnish running legend Paavo Nurmi, known as the “Flying Finn,” was banned from the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics due to alleged amateur status violations related to receiving money for competitions.
However, the tide began to turn after decades of debate and evolving societal views on athletes and compensation. In 1986, a significant shift occurred as the Olympic Charter was amended to welcome “all the world’s great male and female athletes to participate,” regardless of their amateur or professional status. The symbolic breaking point arguably came at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with the arrival of the USA’s “Dream Team.” Featuring NBA superstars like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing, the Dream Team emphatically shattered the long-held notion of Olympic amateurism.
Today, the landscape of Olympic athletes is incredibly diverse, ranging from global icons like Simone Biles and LeBron James, who command multi-million dollar endorsements, to lesser-known athletes balancing training with school or part-time jobs. In this modern context, the recent announcement by World Athletics to award prize money to Olympic gold medal winners in track and field is a logical progression.
Seb Coe, President of World Athletics, articulated the rationale behind this groundbreaking move, reflecting the evolving realities of the Olympic world. “My view of the world has changed,” Coe stated. “It’s really important that, where possible, we create a sport that is financially viable for our competitors. This is the beginning of that.” This marks a new chapter in the Olympics, acknowledging the financial pressures and needs of elite athletes, and directly linking Olympic success with Gold Medal Prize Money.
