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How Five U.S. Olympic Medalists Pay the Bills
With the Rio games closing ceremonies, many of the 11,000 athletes will be returning to their day jobs around the world. And while Carmelo Anthony, Simone Biles, and Michael Phelps make millions in endorsements, most Olympians—even those bringing home medals—do not have that luxury. Here’s how five Team USA athletes pay the bills back home when they are done winning medals.
Maya DiRado
200-meter backstroke champion Maya DiRado is coming back to the States with a new job at McKinsey lined up. She was originally scheduled to start in September but will now delay that for a few months while she goes on a post-Olympics media tour.
Gerek Meinhardt
Gerek Meinhardt helped the U.S. men’s fencing team win a bronze medal last week. This week he’s back to work at Deloitte in San Francisco. He joined the company in 2015 as he was training for his third Olympics on a flexible schedule.
Michelle Carter
Shot-putter Michelle Carter took home the gold medal in Rio, but back home she’s a professional makeup artist (and has the nick name Shot Diva).
Alex Naddour
Alex Naddour is a gymnast who won Team USA its first medal in pommel horse since 1984 when he brought home the gold. And back home he supports his wife and baby daughter as a real estate agent in Arizona.
Gwen Jorgensen
Gwen Jorgensen, who won the U.S.’s first gold medal in triathlon in Rio, is currently a full time athlete who supports herself largely with her race winnings. However, when she picked up the sport back in 2010, she was working as an accountant for Ernst & Young and continued to work there as she competed until her career took off just before the 2012 Olympics.
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