US Olympians Could Have Made Millions By Competing For a Different Country
Top athletes like swimming Paralympian Jessica Long could have earned more than $3.2 million for winning their most recent Olympic medals. That’s if they been competing for Hong Kong instead.
In the aftermath of the 2024 Paris Olympics and in the run-up to the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Naturecan have calculated how much Team USA’s top Olympians and Paralympians could have theoretically earned in their latest games (Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 for Paralympians) had they been competing for the highest-paying countries Hong Kong or Singapore.
Currently, the U.S. is one of the less generous countries in terms of medal payouts. But their cash prizes are still no small feat, considering the high number of athletes that make the podium for this nation. Athletes are rewarded:
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$38,000 for a gold medal
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$23,000 for a silver medal
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$15,000 for a bronze medal
However, Hong Kong currently offers its athletes over 20 times more money for a gold medal than what is offered to U.S. champions. It is currently the nation offering the highest amount for their podium athletes, awarding:
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$768,000 for a gold medal
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$384,000 for a silver medal
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$192,000 for a bronze medal
So, had they competed for the highest-paying nations Hong Kong or Singapore, here’s what the most decorated U.S. athletes could have earned at the most recent Olympic and Paralympic games, according to the number of medals they won:
Top 5 US Olympians, Paris 2024:
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Torri Huske – Swimming
3 gold 
2 silver
$160,000 US prize money
Could have earned:
$3,072,000 competing for Hong Kong
$2,981,000 competing for Singapore
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Regan Smith – Swimming
2 gold 3 silver
$145,000 US prize money
Could have earned:
$2,688,000 competing for Hong Kong
$2,609,000 competing for Singapore
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Simone Biles – Gymnastics
3 gold 1 silver
$137,000 US prize money
Could have earned:
$2,688,000 competing for Hong Kong
$2,608,000 competing for Singapore
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Kate Douglass – Swimming
2 gold 2 silver
$122,000 U.S. prize money
Could have earned:
$2,304,000 competing for Hong Kong
$2,236,000 competing for Singapore
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Gretchen Walsh – Swimming
2 gold 2 silver
$122,000 U.S. prize money
Could have earned:
$2,304,000 competing for Hong Kong
$2,236,000 competing for Singapore
Top 5 U.S. Paralympians, Tokyo 2020:
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Jessica Long – Swimming
3 gold 2 silver 
1 bronze
$175,000 US prize money
Could have earned:
$3,264,000 competing for Hong Kong
$3,167,000 competing for Singapore
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Raymond Martin – Athletics
1 gold 2 silver
$84,000 U.S. prize money
Could have earned:
$1,536,000 competing for Hong Kong
$1,491,000 competing for Singapore
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Tatyana McFadden – Athletics
1 gold 1 silver 1 bronze
$76,000 U.S. prize money
Could have earned:
$1,344,000 competing for Hong Kong
$1,304,000 competing for Singapore
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Oksana Masters – Cycling
2 gold
$76,000 US prize money
Could have earned:
$1,536,000 competing for Hong Kong
$1,490,000 competing for Singapore
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Cheri Madsen – Athletics
1 silver 1 bronze
$38,000 U.S. prize money
Could have earned:
$576,000 competing for Hong Kong
$559,000 competing for Singapore
Team USA Paralympians only recently saw equal pay to Olympic athletes
As one of the nations that do offer cash prizes, U.S. Paralympians were only awarded equal monetary compensation to those competing in the Olympics as of the Tokyo 2020 games, a life-changing decision for many and demonstrating that Paralympic athletes are equal to Olympic athletes.
Equal rewards is not the case across all nationalities, and demonstrates that there is still work to be done to ensure equality for all athletes.
What other rewards have Olympians won for their medals?
It’s not just monetary prizes up for grabs for these top athletes, with reports of some receiving more unique rewards such as paintings, holidays vouchers, pensions and even property.
One of the more bizarre rewards for the Philippines first time Olympic gold winner Carlos Yulo actually included free colonoscopies for life, as well as a lifetime supply of ramen and a condo.