Torri Huske earned the most money out of all the US swimmers at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning $261,875.00 during the 9-day competition. Katie Ledecky was just behind her with $250,714.29. Bobby Finke was the highest-earning man with $145,000.00.
Athletes earn their money from two groups, the USOPC and USA Swimming. The standard funds are paid directly from the USOPC while the enhanced funds are paid from USA Swimming’s budget.
In addition to the numbers being different on how much depending on where they come from, the numbers also vary for relays. Each relay athlete earned the standard fund in full. They also earned the enhanced fund but this was divided equally between all of the relay members in prelims and finals. For example, those who earned $25,714.29 earned $22,500 for silver from the standard fund and an additional $3,214.29 from being a member of the relay ($22,500 divided by 7).
USOPC OPERATION GOLD MONEY (Standard Funds)
- 1st place – $37,500
- 2nd place – $22,500
- 3rd place – $15,000
USOPC OPERATION GOLD MONEY (Enhanced Funds)
- 1st place – $62,500
- 2nd place – $22,500
- 3rd place – $10,000
Note that the “enhanced funds” are paid by the USOPC on behalf of USA Swimming, which allows it to fall under the “Operation Gold” loophole of the NCAA’s rules. That number has declined – in 2012, for example, gold medalists received $75,000 from this USA Swimming fund.
Huske swam to three gold medals and two silver medals, bringing home the highest medals of the US swimming team. She also helped two of the US relays to new World Records.
Huske is one of numerous swimmers who earned money in Operation Gold and is still competing in the NCAA. These athletes will be allowed to earn the money as stated in the NCAA bylaw 12.1.2.1.4.1.2. This bylaw states: “Operation Gold Grant. An individual (prospective student-athlete or student-athlete) may accept funds that are administered by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee pursuant to its Operation Gold program”
US Earnings From 2024 Paris Olympics By Swimmer
Credit to Barry Revzin For Running the Numbers
| Swimmer Name | Money (USD) |
| Torri Huske | $261,875.00 |
| Katie Ledecky | $250,714.29 |
| Regan Smith | $225,625.00 |
| Gretchen Walsh | $161,875.00 |
| Bobby Finke | $145,000.00 |
| Caeleb Dressel | $118,943.45 |
| Kate Douglass | $116,562.50 |
| Nic Fink | $116,026.79 |
| Ryan Murphy | $96,026.79 |
| Jack Alexy | $73,630.95 |
| Chris Guiliano | $73,630.95 |
| Hunter Armstrong | $73,630.95 |
| Abbey Weitzeil | $71,562.50 |
| Charlie Swanson | $71,026.79 |
| Alex Shackell | $71,026.79 |
| Katharine Berkoff | $70,312.50 |
| Simone Manuel | $51,964.29 |
| Luke Hobson | $50,714.29 |
| Carson Foster | $50,714.29 |
| Paige Madden | $50,714.29 |
| Ryan Held | $47,916.67 |
| Matt King | $47,916.67 |
| Lilly King | $45,312.50 |
| Emma Weber | $45,312.50 |
| Katie Grimes | $45,000.00 |
| Erika Connolly | $26,250.00 |
| Drew Kibler | $25,714.29 |
| Kieran Smith | $25,714.29 |
| Brooks Curry | $25,714.29 |
| Blake Pieroni | $25,714.29 |
| Thomas Heilman | $25,714.29 |
| Claire Weinstein | $25,714.29 |
| Erin Gemmell | $25,714.29 |
| Anna Peplowski | $25,714.29 |
| Emma Weyant | $25,000.00 |
Dressel with a nice paycheck for very subpar swimming.
Torri Huske made enough to cover about 5 months of rent in Arlington
Or Palo Alto amiright
Torri Huske’s performance in the mixed relay probably saved the day for the US as it ended up tying with China overall.
I double checked the calculations. All swimmers appear correct based on the formula except for Kate Douglass who is off by exactly $100,000. It looks like her gold medal in the 200 breast was left out of her calculation. She should have totaled $216,562.50 and be fourth on the list behind Regan Smith and ahead of Gretchen Walsh.
How much did their coaches (and developmental coaches) earn?
No cash prizes for Brits!
Poor Alex – lost a medal and money 😢
Heilman and Weinstein making $25K before heading back to finish high school, that’s a wicked summer job!
Tax free too
France will take their cut before the athletes see any cash.
Also more than most college kids make in a summer internship
Lol how r people disagreeing with this, $25k is definitely more than most summer internships
Perhaps more because it was a daft comment? Do internship students get paid a lot? It should be illegal but in the UK many are unpaid, so advantaging those from wealthier families.
25k for a summer works out to $52/hr over 12 weeks which would be on the low-ish side of like big tech internships since it looks like the main companies cluster around the $55-65 range
Internship earnings are taxed though.
so it’s still more than what most interns make in a summer
More than many earn working a job.
Alex Shackell’s is even better – 71K!
How did Shackell get $71k for 2 relays? Am I missing something?
One of her relays earned a gold medal. She received $45,312.50 just for the women’s 4×100 medley relay.