To compete on an international level, most elite swimmers are required to train full-time, limiting their opportunities for traditional employment. While a few top swimmers have reached celebrity status, allowing them to command salaries for product endorsements and personal appearances, the majority of U.S. National Team athletes rely on funding from outside sources to train and compete. The median income for most Olympic hopefuls is less than $20,000 annually. Expenses for National Team athletes vary, but most incur $25,000-$40,000 in out-of-pocket expenses annually for coaching, equipment, and travel needs.  

With support from USA Swimming Foundation donors, the 2016 USA Olympic Swimming Team’s performance is considered among the best in history. 

Our swimmers won 33 of the 121 medals (27%) that Team USA won at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, which ties for the most medals won in the modern era. Of those 33 medals, 16 were gold. There were 51 top 8 finishes out of a maximum 58, and 19 athletes achieved at least one lifetime best (42% of swimmers with flat start swims). Of the 47 Olympic swimmers, 38 were former Junior Team athletes with 18 (38%) being on the Junior Team within the last 3 years. 

Funding from the USA Swimming Foundation helped these swimmers on their journeys to Olympic success. When you donate to the USA Swimming Foundation, you help the elite swimmers of today and tomorrow, prepare and perform at their best.