Olympic and Paralympic athletes from the United States are set to receive significant financial rewards for their participation in the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Games. Each athlete will earn $200,000, amounting to nearly €170,000, simply for competing. This considerable sum is made possible by billionaire Steven Ross, who donated over a hundred million dollars to the U.S. Olympic Committee, highlighting the financial support available to American athletes compared to their international counterparts.

Norwegian speed skater Sander Eitem expressed his feelings of jealousy towards the American athletes in a statement to Dagbladet, pointing out the disparity in financial rewards. Eitem commented on the remarkable achievement of the U.S. team, stating, "Of course I am a bit jealous that they receive so much money just for participating in the Olympics." Despite this, he emphasized his passion for the sport, asserting that his motivation to skate comes from love for the activity itself rather than financial gain.

It’s important to note that the financial rewards for American athletes are not handed out immediately; they will receive their first installment of $100,000 (approximately €85,000) either at the age of 45 or 20 years after their Olympic appearances. The second half of the total amount is saved and only provided to athletes’ families after each Olympic event, suggesting a structured approach to athlete compensation that ensures financial security over time.