PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Olympic gold in athletics is worth over half a million kroner.
Everyone else has to settle for the glory.
– This will put pressure on others, says pole vault star Armand Duplantis.
World Athletics (WA) is the first international federation to reward gold medalists in the Paris Olympics. A gold gives over half a million kroner in prize money.
The chairman Sebastian Coe has also announced that the plan is for all athletics medalists in Los Angeles 2028 to be rewarded with a sum of money.
– This comes a bit out of nowhere, says Armand Duplantis to Expressen.
Currently, only the track and field athletes receive prize money for Olympic gold – all other athletes have to settle for the honor.
The article continues below.
WA’s decision will affect other federations, believes the pole vault star.
– Swimming is a top event at the Olympics, they should have something. Athletics is the biggest Olympic sport, so they knew they wanted to do something for their athletes, he says.
Duplanti’s agent Daniel Westfeldt says that he was also surprised and did not believe that the union had such financial resources.
– It may seem unfair, but it is up to each special association. But I think the swimming association is as well capitalized as WA.
The agent is also aware that the International Olympic Committee – which, according to Westfeldt, is “rich in pigs” – should be able to do something similar.
READ MORE: Armand Duplantis speaks straight from the heart – honest words about Sweden leave no one unmoved: “It makes me grateful”
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