You guys are ignorant if you think US athletes aren't paid.

They try to hide it from the general public, but Olympic level athletes are paid a "stipend" by the USOC.

I don't know exactly how much that is, but a friend of mine made the Olympics in 1996 in a minor sport and his stipend was about $50,000 at that time. He said that major sports could be 3-4X at that time - that was 12 years ago.

It is true that coaching, travel, equipment and competition expenses can be high for a world-class athlete, however the stipend, originally intented to cover those costs, has grown way beyond that.

Look at the houses these folks live in in their profiles. It wouldn't surprise me if "major" sport athletes get $200,000 to $500,000 a year.

I don't think anyone questioned if they got paid. Many have sponsors as well, like phelps is sponsored by speedo and got a million dollar bonus for completing his medal run. They don't pose on Wheaties boxes for free. I don't blame them for cashing in, heck who wouldn't?

I questioned if the US Government was handing out checks for medals as it was alluded to.

Aww hell guys... we are paying one way or another. Either as a taxpayer or consumer. How much of the price of a pair of $60 Nike shoes is due to them paying Tiger or Michael Jordon to wear a swoosh? I dunno but it's got to be covered.