PARIS– There is the table tennis player who has not received enough financial support in his country. The discus thrower who couldn’t pay his rent. The badminton player who needed help to continue her trip to Paris.
Several dozen athletes used crowdfunding to help pay the costs of preparing for the 2024 Olympics and compete in France, with GoFundMe saying more than $2 million was raised worldwide ahead of the Games.
American discus thrower Veronica Fraley raised more than $23,000 on GoFundMe, with most of the donations coming after she posted on for your cause.
Badminton player Jennie Gai received almost US$22,000 to help prepare for her participation in mixed doubles in Paris.
“This absolutely would not have been possible without everyone’s support,” Gai said on his GoFundMe page. “Your donations have eased many financial burdens in planning our tournaments and training, which has allowed me to fully focus on Olympic running. I am extremely grateful for each of your contributions.”
American table tennis player Kanak Jha has raised more than $30,000 to help cover the costs of training, travel, accommodation and hiring a private coach.
“I started GoFundMe just to participate in these Games. And I’m very grateful to everyone who supported,” Jha told the Associated Press. “Everything that was given there was spent solely on preparing for here, so I’m very grateful to have that support.”
Jha, who trains and competes mainly in Germany because he said he is “financially impossible” Being a professional table tennis player in the United States guaranteed the USA its best Olympic campaign in the men’s tournament by reaching the round of 16 at the Paris Games.
“The idea came about just for the purpose of preparing for the Paris Olympics and then the Games,” he said. “Table tennis is a very global sport. We are traveling a lot. We go to a lot of tournaments, a lot of training camps. So, financially, sometimes it’s not that cheap.”
Among the international athletes who sought crowdfunding support was the 16-year-old Australian breakdancer. Jeff Dunnewho raised more than US$20,000 for her preparations, and Tonga’s first female Olympic boxer, Feofaaki Epenisawho received more than US$10,000 in preparation for Paris.
Former US athlete Lashinda Demus raised $21,700 to bring her family to Paris to see her receive a gold medal she was denied 12 years ago. Demus originally won the silver medal in the 400 meter hurdles at London 2012, but was upgraded to gold retroactively after the Russian runner who finished first was found guilty of doping.
“The idea of having my mother, Yolanda, by my side in Paris fills me with joy. She was my coach in London and will now be there to witness this momentous occasion. The same goes for my dad, who has been with me every step of the way,” she said on her GoFundMe page. “Your kindness turned a personal achievement into a family celebration. The idea of receiving my gold medal in Paris, surrounded by the people I love most, is becoming a beautiful reality.”
Among the family members trying to get to Paris to watch their loved ones compete were the parents of the American steeplechase runner. Freddie Crittenden, which raised more than US$20,000 to help with travel costs. Around US$6,000 was raised so that the American fighter’s mother and younger sister Aaron Brooks, could reach France. Approximately the same amount was raised for the parents of the American swimmer Hunter Armstrongwho won silver in the men’s 4×100 meter relay on Sunday.
“Help Aunt Tiff get to the Paris Olympics,” read the headline. GoFundMe Page ridden by Tiffany Martin, who said she is the aunt of American swimmer Keaton Jones, who placed fifth in the 200-meter backstroke final last week. Only US$520 was raised on the page before the Games.
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