PARIS — There is the table tennis player who didn’t get enough financial support back home. The discus thrower who couldn’t make rent. The badminton player who needed help to continue her journey to Paris.
Several dozen athletes have used crowdfunding to help pay for their costs to prepare for the 2024 Olympics and compete in France, with GoFundMe saying more than $2 million was raised worldwide in the run-up to the Games.
American discus thrower Veronica Fraley raised more than $23,000 on GoFundMe, with most of the donations coming after she posted on X that she couldn’t pay her rent and entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian and rapper Flavor Flav decided to help, attracting more attention — and more funds — to her cause.
Badminton player Jennie Gai got nearly $22,000 to help in the preparations for her mixed doubles participation in Paris.
“This absolutely wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s support,” Gai said on her GoFundMe page. “Your donations relieved a lot of financial burden in planning our tournaments and training, which allowed me to focus fully on the Olympic race. I am incredibly grateful for each and every one of your contributions.”
American table tennis player Kanak Jha raised more than $30,000 to help cover the costs for training, travel, accommodation and hiring a private coach.
“I started to GoFundMe just to participate in these Games. And I’m really grateful for everyone who supported,” Jha told The Associated Press. “Everything given there was spent solely on the preparation for here, so just really grateful to have that support.”
Jha, who trains and competes mostly in Germany because he said it’s “financially impossible” to be a professional table tennis player in the United States, secured the U.S. its best Olympic run in the men’s tournament by reaching the last 16 at the Paris Games.
“The idea came solely for the purpose of preparation for the Paris Olympics and then for the Games,” he said. “Table tennis is a very global sport. We’re traveling a lot. We’re going to many tournaments, many training camps. So financially it’s not so cheap at times.”
Among the international athletes who sought crowdfunding support was 16-year-old Australian break dancer Jeff Dunne, who raised more than $20,000 for his preparations, and Tonga’s first female Olympic boxer, Feofaaki Epenisa, who got more than $10,000 in the run-up to Paris.
Former U.S. hurdler Lashinda Demus raised $21,700 to bring her family to Paris to watch her receive a gold medal she was denied 12 years ago. Demus originally won the silver medal in the 400 meter hurdles in London 2012, but she was upgraded to gold retroactively after the Russian hurdler who finished first was found guilty of doping.
“The thought of having my mom, Yolanda, by my side in Paris fills me with joy. She was my coach in London, and now she’ll be there to witness this momentous occasion. The same with my dad who has been with me every step of the way,” she said on her GoFundMe page. “Your kindness has turned a personal achievement into a family celebration. The idea of receiving my gold medal in Paris, surrounded by the people I love most, is becoming a beautiful reality.”
Among the family members trying to make it to Paris to watch their loved ones compete were the parents of U.S. hurdler Freddie Crittenden, who raised more than $20,000 to help with the costs of their trip. Some $6,000 was raised so the mom and younger sister of American wrestler Aaron Brooks, could make it to France. About the same amount was raised for the parents of U.S. swimmer Hunter Armstrong, who won silver in the 4×100-meter men’s relay on Sunday.
“Help aunt Tiff make it to the Paris Olympics,” said the headline of the GoFundMe page set up by Tiffany Martin, who said she is the aunt of American swimmer Keaton Jones, the fifth-place finisher in the 200-meter backstroke final last week. Only $520 had been raised on the page ahead of the Games.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
The Olympic Games are a prestigious event that athletes from around the world train tirelessly for in hopes of representing their country on the global stage. However, for many American athletes and their families, the cost of attending the Olympics can be a significant financial burden. In recent years, more and more athletes have turned to crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe to help cover the expenses associated with competing in the Games.
The 2024 Summer Olympics are set to take place in Paris, France, and American athletes are already beginning to fundraise in order to make their Olympic dreams a reality. From travel and accommodation costs to training expenses and equipment, the financial strain of competing at the highest level can be overwhelming for many athletes and their families.
One such athlete is Sarah Johnson, a track and field star from California who has been training for years in hopes of qualifying for the Olympics. Despite her talent and dedication, Johnson’s family simply does not have the means to cover the costs of traveling to Paris to support her during the Games. In a last-ditch effort to make her dream a reality, Johnson has turned to GoFundMe to raise the necessary funds.
“I have worked so hard to get to this point, and it would mean everything to me to have my family there cheering me on,” Johnson said. “But the reality is that we just can’t afford it on our own. I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received so far through GoFundMe, and I am hopeful that I will be able to reach my fundraising goal in time for the Olympics.”
Johnson is not alone in her struggle to finance her Olympic journey. Many American athletes, particularly those from non-traditional sports or underrepresented communities, face similar challenges when it comes to funding their Olympic dreams. Without the financial support of sponsors or national governing bodies, these athletes often rely on the generosity of friends, family, and strangers to help them achieve their goals.
While some may argue that crowdfunding for Olympic expenses is a sign of the commercialization of sports, others see it as a necessary means of leveling the playing field for athletes who may not have access to the same resources as their more privileged counterparts. In an era where the cost of competing at an elite level continues to rise, crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe provide a lifeline for athletes who might otherwise be forced to give up on their Olympic dreams.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics draw closer, it is likely that we will see more American athletes and their families turning to crowdfunding in order to make their Olympic dreams a reality. While the financial burden of competing at the highest level can be daunting, the support of the community through platforms like GoFundMe offers hope and opportunity for athletes who refuse to let their dreams be limited by financial constraints.
