Sha’Carri Richardson had little time to celebrate after her victory in the women’s 100m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. While she silenced critics with her performance, her focus quickly shifted to a larger issue—low financial support for track and field athletes under Team USA. In December 2023, she voiced her concerns on Instagram, urging people not to donate because the athletes who needed financial assistance were not receiving the funds. She questioned how Team USA and USATF were allocating their resources and sought a positive resolution to the problem.
Financial Struggles of Team USA Athletes
Richardson was not alone in addressing the issue. Fellow sprinter Noah Lyles had previously spoken about the financial burden faced by American athletes. In May 2023, he revealed that he had to use his own money to travel to the US Olympic trials in Eugene, covering flight and accommodation costs. Given that these trials determine Olympic team selections, such expenses were unexpected and raised concerns about the lack of financial support.
Lyles, along with Kenny Bednarek, called for a stronger support system to back athletes financially. Nearly a year later, USATF appears to be making changes, but whether these adjustments will provide a real solution remains uncertain.
USATF’s Restructuring and Financial Concerns
On February 18, 2024, sports journalist Jonathan Gault reported on letsrun.com that multiple high-ranking employees at USATF were let go as part of an organizational restructuring on January 31. Among those dismissed were Aarti Parekh (Chief Communications Officer), Aretha Thurmond (Chief of Athlete Services and International Teams), and Robin Beamon (Director of Outreach & Grassroots Programs).
This followed previous departures in 2023, including Norm Wain (Chief of Business & Legal Affairs), Adam Schmenk (also in Business & Legal Affairs), Zack Raubuck (Director of Events), and Ryan Cash (Associate Director of Events). Notably, Wain had been one of USATF’s longest-serving employees.
These layoffs were not routine but appeared linked by a common factor—high salaries. Reports indicated that some of these employees earned between $177,000 and $270,000 annually. USATF’s financial struggles in 2023, along with ongoing concerns over athlete compensation, may have contributed to these staff reductions. However, whether these cuts will lead to better financial support for athletes remains to be seen.
Noah Lyles Advocates for a Retirement Plan
While restructuring is happening, key figures remain in USATF, including CEO Max Siegel, whose salary has drawn scrutiny. In 2018, Siegel earned a base salary of $611,000. By 2023, his total compensation had risen to $1.17 million.
Lyles has been vocal about the need for long-term financial security for athletes, particularly a retirement plan. Before competing in the NYC Grand Prix last year, he criticized USATF for neglecting this issue. He highlighted the difficulty athletes face in saving for the future, stating, “I know it is very hard for us to be able to save for retirement when we don’t have a 401K.”
His concerns echoed those previously raised by Justin Gatlin. On his Ready Set Go podcast in May 2023, Gatlin revealed, “We get no retirement fund. We get no 401(k), okay? We get no pension. We get none of that.” He emphasized that without financial security, athletes must maximize their earnings while they can, as their careers have a limited window.
The Road Ahead
With USATF laying off four of its nine highest-paid employees, there is hope that funds could be redirected to better support athletes. However, major figures, including Siegel, remain in power with substantial salaries. Whether these changes will lead to improved financial conditions for track and field athletes remains uncertain.
Lyles and Richardson have sparked a crucial conversation about athlete compensation and financial security. The question now is whether USATF will take concrete steps to address these concerns.