“I don’t make my money on the track, running at all,” Gabby Thomas had revealed in March, while citing being an influencer and running her brand as her second job. Well, unlike most major sports, the financial reality of track and field has been alarmingly bleak, as athletes themselves have pointed out. Although meets like the Diamond League finale offer around $50,000 for gold winners in the Diamond+ disciplines, and the World Championship winner takes home $70,000, these are once-in-a-year events with tight competition, and thus, the figures can sometimes feel unpromising. Now Thomas has touched upon this topic once again!

In her Instagram post uploaded on October 28, Gabby Thomas revealed 9 fun facts about being a professional runner. In fact number 4, she bluntly puts it, “You get $38,000 for winning an Olympic gold. Most of our money in track and field comes from sponsorships and partnerships and brands.” If you’re an A-lister, voila, sponsors might line up behind you. However, for those just beginning their professional track and field journey, the road is anything but easy. But, Gabby reveals the reality, “Start it out not making much money in the sport, and then you make a little bit more, and then you keep going until you earn partnerships.”

Yet, while the financial landscape of the sport remains quite murky, there’s still a silver lining. What’s that? Well, track and field stands out for its gender equality. And Gabby Thomas appreciated that in her post. “And even though we don’t make a lot of money running, track is one of, if not the best, sports in terms of gender pay equity. We have the same events, the same prize money, and the same global spotlight as all of the men, if not more,” said Thomas.

However, this wasn’t the first time Gabby had doubled down on the financial struggles. In March, the three-time Olympic Champion appeared on the Net Worth and Chill podcast, where she remarked, “There is no salary for us once you’re a professional runner. There is no league that you’re going into where you get a salary.” She even listed the many requirements a track athlete has to cater to, “You have to pay a coach, you have to pay an agent, you have to pay for your travel to meets, you have to pay for a massage therapist, and access to a weightlifting facility.” And for those who don’t have a sponsorship, all these are out-of-pocket expenses. 

But it’s also true that things are changing now. Apart from A-lister leagues like the World Athletics Championships and the Diamond League, new institutions are stepping up to support runners. One standout example is Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos, an all-women’s league offering $60,000 in prize money and a $25,000 Tiffany crown to its champions. It’s a refreshing addition to the global athletics scene, proving that while the situation remains tough, change is on the horizon. However, the other side also remains a stark reality where Gabby is not the only one facing these struggles.

Gabby Thomas is not the only one underpaid in sports

In a YouTube video posted by Firefly Recovery on April 10, Tara and Hunter found themselves in the hot seat, taking on a rapid-fire round of 24 questions. When the Olympic Long Jump Champion was asked, “If you had to compete in a sport outside of track and field, what would it be?” she initially replied, “If I had to compete in a sport outside of track and field, I would say gymnastics.” But within seconds, she changed her mind, laughing as she added, “No, I would say tennis because they have a lot of money. I want to be Coco Gauf…”

The struggle of being a field athlete who only steps into the spotlight for about 10 days every four years at the Olympics is undeniably tough, and Tara knows it wholeheartedly. In 2024, the athlete earned around $123,000 from events like Paris, the NB Grand Prix, the WA Indoors, and others. While according to Forbes, Coco Gauff brought in roughly $9.4 million in on-court earnings that same year. No surprise, then, that Tara Davis-Woodhall now believes that mainstream sports like gymnastics and tennis could have earned her a much bigger pay.

Well, both Gabby Thomas and Tara Davis-Woodhall might not earn millions like Coco Gauff, but things might change soon. Gabby is set to be the advisor-owner for Athlos NYC in 2026, along with Tara and Sha’Carri Richardson. Also, as interest in track and field continues to grow and with Athlos NYC having introduced the long jump this year, there’s a definite ray of hope.