That's a myth? $60,000 does sound like a lot, but how many athletes can win a world champs, and how does track pay today compared to previous years. Whose making money today on the track?In the previous decade, a predominantly track athlete like Bekele earned $1,777,063 so far, including some generous Golden League jackpots, mainly from track and cross-country, with $218,030 on the roads since 2013.But today a predominantly track athlete like Mo, today has only earned $571,155, most of it coming from the track, and about $75,000 coming from the road.Galen Rupp earned $222,500.Compare this to someone like Sammy Kitwara, with a 10K PB of 27:44, slightly better than Mo, decided to go to the roads, with a lifetime earning of $820,780.Kitwara earned $50,000 for placing second in the 2015 Chicago marathon, in 2015, $90,000 for placing second in the 2014 Chicago marathon, $65,000 for placing third in the Chicago marathon, and $55,000 for placing fourth in the 2012 marathon. He won $32,500 for placing sixth in London 2015.In smaller distances, he won $15,000 in a Puerto Rico 10K road race, $12K in a 12K a San Francisco road race, $25K in an Atlanta 10K, and another $30,000 in a Puerto Rico 10K, as far back as I cared to look.Kebede has won $1,625,130.Emmanuel Mutai, the perpetual runner-up has won $1,485,462.Bizunesh Deba, a great, but not a pariticularly top of the top, female athlete, has a lifetime earnings of $668,950, more than Mo and Rupp.
Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:
The myth being perpetuated is that times are slower because all the talent is on the roads. A world Champs Gold medal still pays $60k ...