Several athletes participating in the 2024 Olympics in Paris have turned to crowdfunding to help cover their expenses for training and competing in France. More than $2 million has been raised worldwide on GoFundMe leading up to the Games.
Discus thrower Veronica Fraley raised over $23,000 on GoFundMe after she struggled to pay her rent. With the support of entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian and rapper Flavor Flav, Fraley’s fundraising efforts gained momentum and attracted more donations.
Badminton player Jennie Gai received nearly $22,000 through crowdfunding to assist with her preparations for the mixed doubles event at the Olympics. Gai expressed her gratitude on her GoFundMe page, acknowledging that the donations eased her financial burden and allowed her to focus on her training.
American table tennis player Kanak Jha raised more than $30,000 through crowdfunding to cover training, travel, accommodation, and coaching expenses. Jha, who primarily trains in Germany due to financial constraints in the U.S., achieved the country’s best Olympic performance in the men’s tournament, reaching the last 16 in Paris.
International athletes also sought crowdfunding support, including Australian break dancer Jeff Dunne and Tonga’s first female Olympic boxer, Feofaaki Epenisa. Former U.S. hurdler Lashinda Demus raised funds to bring her family to Paris to witness her gold medal ceremony, following a retroactive upgrade from silver in the 2012 London Olympics.
Family members of athletes also utilized crowdfunding to attend the Games, with parents of U.S. hurdler Freddie Crittenden and younger sister of American wrestler Aaron Brooks raising funds for their trips to Paris. The parents of U.S. swimmer Hunter Armstrong, who won silver in the 4×100-meter men’s relay, also received financial support through crowdfunding.
In some cases, relatives set up GoFundMe pages to help their loved ones, such as the aunt of American swimmer Keaton Jones, who aimed to raise funds for her trip to the Paris Olympics. This initiative highlighted the community’s involvement in supporting athletes’ journeys to compete at the highest level.
