Olympian's rent crisis highlights sports financial disparity

Veronica Fraley, an American Olympian specialising in hammer throw, posted on X that although she competes in the Paris Olympics, she cannot afford to pay her rent. The 24-year-old's words were not unnoticed by Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian. He rushed to help her.

Even though the International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not award cash prizes for medals, some of the best athletes can count on financial support from governments and private sponsors. According to CBS News, this support can take various forms, from cash to real estate.

However, making a living from training and daily life is a significant challenge for many athletes. An example is Veronica Fraley, an American discus thrower, who had to publicly express her financial need on the social media platform X.

Among those who responded to her appeal was the legendary rapper Flavor Flav, who promised immediate financial help.

"DM me and I'll send payment TODAY so you don't have to worry bout it TOMORROW and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow LETZ GO,!!!!" wrote Flavor Flav on the platform X.

Serena Williams' husband, Alexis Ohanian, also joined in. Within minutes, Ohanian confirmed a donation of £6,300.

The disparity in the value of the prizes awarded for Olympic medals in different countries also highlights Olympians' difficult financial situation. For example, in the United States, a gold medallist might receive a bonus of £30,370, which is significantly lower compared to the £597,500 offered by Singapore for gold.

Alexis Ohanian cannot complain about a lack of funds. He is the main founder of Reddit, one of the most popular social media sites, and has made investments in large internet companies.

His relationship with Serena Williams became public in 2015, and the couple got engaged a year later. In 2017, they welcomed their daughter Alexis Olympia, and at the end of the same year, they got married.