Leighton Levy, Sunday Gleaner Writer
Earnings for some of the world's best athletes have been hit hard in recent times. Sunday Gleaner queries have revealed the troubling reality that the greater number of athletes – those competing primarily in Europe and not among the top 15 in the world – are making less than half of what they used to.
Track meets are said to be steadily disappearing and the dwindling number of meets and smaller budgets have seen promoters holding on tighter to their purse strings much to the detriment of the athletes.
The queries revealed that perhaps a decade ago, an athlete who was ranked outside the top 15 in the world could take home approximately US$60,000 a year, which made for comfortable living. Those same athletes are now earning in the region of between US$15-20,000 annually a drop of more than 60 per cent!
