When most people watch the Olympics or Diamond League meets, they assume the athletes competing are living the dream traveling the world, representing their countries, living off sponsorships and prize money. But behind the scenes, the reality is often much harsher: many international-level track and field athletes are struggling just to stay in the game. Yes, even those who wear their nation’s flag and run shoulder-to-shoulder with world champions.
Good Enough to Compete, Not Good Enough to Get Paid?
Here’s the hard truth: if you’re not a top 3 finisher or a record-breaking phenom, you're often invisible to sponsors and overlooked by funding bodies. The current system is built to support only the most elite of the elite the confirmed stars. The ones already on the podium. Everyone else? They’re expected to keep grinding, performing, and representing their countries... with little to no financial help. This leaves a huge gap. There are countless athletes who are internationally ranked, qualify for major competitions, and push the sport forward every season yet they don’t get the recognition or resources they need to sustain their careers. They’re good enough to make it to the starting line, but not "marketable" enough to receive financial backing.
And let’s be honest: even the so-called “confirmed stars” don’t always perform. They get injured. They burn out. They miss finals. So why does the system bet all its chips on just a few?
The Hidden Cost of the “Top 5” Strategy
This top-heavy strategy creates a dangerous message: if you’re not at the very top, you don’t matter. That message is not just harmful it’s shortsighted. Athletes who find themselves stuck in the middle tier often have to take on part-time jobs, skip recovery treatments, or self-fund travel to international meets. Many eventually walk away from the sport—not because they lack talent, but because they can’t keep up with the cost of chasing excellence. And that’s a loss for everyone. Because the sport’s depth, its competitiveness, and its future depend on more than just the five people who make it to the podium.
If You Represent the Flag, You Deserve Support
Here’s what needs to be said: representing your country on a world stage is a big deal. If an athlete qualifies to wear the national uniform, travels across the world, and competes against the best—then they deserve more than just a pat on the back. They deserve support. It’s time to rethink how we define “worthy” in track and field. Instead of pouring all the resources into a handful of stars, why not create a more balanced model—one that supports the top 20, 30, or even 50 athletes who are consistently performing at an international level? This isn't about handouts. It's about fairness, sustainability, and making sure the sport doesn't lose its backbone.
Building a Better Future for Track
Track and field needs a smarter approach—one that sees athletes not just as medal machines, but as human beings committing their lives to performance. Let’s build funding structures that support progression, not just perfection. Let’s create sponsorship models that reward work ethic, consistency, and international competitiveness not just gold medals. Because if we keep ignoring the athletes in the middle, fewer and fewer will stick around long enough to become the next generation of champions. And the whole sport will suffer because of it.