Question: how do professional athletes make money?
Answer: Income depends on event; sprints and marathons competitions pay the most. About 20% of top 10 American T&F athletes make over $50K annually. Less than $15K annually is what about 50% of T&F (Track and Field) athletes who rank in the top 10 in the U.S. This is from all sources: sponsorships, grants, prize money, etc.).