This is how much money Canada’s Olympic athletes earn when they win a medal

Hockey is on pause and attention has shifted to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Fans across the National Hockey League are quick to complain about players’ salaries, and it is no different when it comes to Canadian athletes taking part in the international event. Only this time, fans are wondering why they do not earn more money.

It has been reported by the Canadian Olympic Committee that it will pay its athletes $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.

Whether they’re competing in a team’s sports or an individual event, the payout is the same.

In the United States, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee pays its winning athletes $37,500 for gold medals, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze medals. These amounts fail in comparison to what Hong Kong has dedicated to its gold-winning athletes, dishing out $6,000,000 HK, which is the equivalent to $768,232 US dollars, for the top spot on the podium. In France, according to information from the daily L’Équipe, athletes who win a gold medal will receive 80,000 euros (approximately $119,900 CAN). Those who get a silver medal will receive 40,000 euros (approximately $59,900 CAN) while those who win a bronze medal will receive 20,000 euros (approximately $29,900 CAN).

As of now, Canada has won a total of seven medals. Christina Deguchi won the Olympic gold in the women’s 57kg event in judo. It was Canada’s first gold medal of Paris 2024. She took down world number three Huh Mimi of South Korea in the final to become Canada’s first ever Olympic champion in judo. Swimmer Summer McIntosh also won gold as she was the best in the women’s 400m individual medley. She also won a silver medal at the Women’s 400m Freestyle. Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team captured silver for Canada’s best-ever Olympic result in the sport. In diving, Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray made history for Canada, winning the country’s first ever Olympic medal in the men’s synchronized 10m platform event, diving to bronze. In fencing, Eleanor Harvey (pictured at the top of this article) also won bronze in the Women’s Individual Foil. Later on Wednesday, Ilya Kharun won bronze in the 200M Butterfly final, securing Canada’s seventh medal in Paris.

The 2024 Olympic Games kicked off on July 26 and conclude on August 11.