Vote: USATF vs Nick Symmonds

Vote: USATF vs Nick Symmonds

Aug 12, 2015 by Gordon Mack
Vote: USATF vs Nick Symmonds


You know the story...
Nick Symmonds refuses to sign a Team USA apparel contract.
USATF removes him from the roster.
Twitter explodes.
Nick Symmonds says USATF is not paying athletes enough.
USATF says on the contrary.

Which leaves us to this. Nick Symmonds argues that USATF only pays athletes 8% of their total revenue. USATF claims they pay athletes 50% of their total revenue. And by claim we mean they show their spending line by line. See below:

USATF ELITE/PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE SPENDING*  
Cash Directly to Athletes  $5,130,000
USATF High Performance Programs  $7,035,000
USATF Payment of Athlete Costs  $3,230,000
TOTAL  $15,395,000
* Does not include administrative or staff costs  
   
CATEGORY BREAKDOWN:  

CASH DIRECTLY TO ATHLETES
 
Tier Funding  $1,975,000
Prize money  $1,550,000
Emerging elite & Post-collegiate support programs  $850,000
Athlete appearances/ambassadors  $400,000
Travel allocations  $340,000
Health Insurance deductibles  $15,000
TOTAL  $5,130,000
   
USATF HIGH PERFORMANCE PROGRAMS  
USATF Championship Series events  $2,950,000
Broadcast/webcast of elite events  $2,200,000
Olympic Training Center  $575,000
Sport Science  $550,000
Sport Performance Workshops  $360,000
Championship Officials  $250,000
Sports Medicine  $150,000
TOTAL  $7,035,000
   
USATF PAYMENT OF ATHLETE COSTS  
International Teams & Training Camps  $2,200,000
Athlete travel/hotel to other events  $350,000
Grants to athlete training groups  $280,000
Medical services  $250,000
Coaching Stipends  $150,000
TOTAL  $3,230,000

Now Symmonds is saying what USATF includes in athlete support is not really supporting the athletes. For example is 2.2 Million for broadcasting meets supporting the athletes? Nick says no.


USATF says yes. So let's ask the public what do you believe is considered athlete support?!