America’s Unemployed Olympic Hero

Poor guy, his monthlly stipend is just $1750.
He should get a real job,just like the rest of us.

Agree with Owen209. There are not only people in far worse financial shape on the outside through no fault of their own, but what about Olympic athletes in less-visible sports?

If you ask me, Jason should take over on the Kellogg's box. Jason is the kind of guy they want and need. He's the whole package, champion, come from behind, and a clean cut character.

I really don't think this deification of the "one top winnah!" is the way to go. All these olympic people, they all work hard. And I can identify way more with Jason, they guy who just inched up and clinched a win when the chips were down, than I can with Phelps. Not to say I don't like Phelps, I do. And I don't care much about Phelp's bong incident. But at the same time, I want to see a guy like Jason being an example to my kids. Phelps isn't ready for that., he's a kid

Know what I mean?

I think "winner" lost an 'n' and gained an 'h' on the way back from Beijing. $40K in January? Sniffs at deals under $200k? Give me a break (as well as the last three minutes of my life back).

Kacky and rach3, you reveled in these athletes' accomplishments, and you saw maybe a fraction of a percent of their hard work. The line in the article states that this "is the job." It's a true statement. These athletes work their patooties off, live in dorms, on floors, and on the road for years, sacrifice their educations and greater social interactions, just so you, in a beer-induced state, can roar, "U-S-A" repeatedly at the TV in the local brewpub for 2 weeks every four years. They deserve better.

When was the last time YOU sponsored an athlete or donated to the USOC or USA Swimming?

Wow. Why all the hostility toward someone who represented our country so well in the last Olympics? Professional athletes have a very narrow money-making window because the careers they worked all their lives to achieve are all but over by the time they're 30. Most won't see a dime, but a few, those who have poured everything they have into their sport, have a shot to make some money before having to get "real" jobs. Call it meager payback for the sacrifices they've had to make their whole lives. How can anyone begrudge that?

Can't believe the negative comments of all the losers on this site. Our country is what it is because of great guys like Lezak,
He deserves respect. There would be no Speedo or other sporrt companies which employs a lot of losers without the acheivements of Phelphs , Spitz, Lezak etc. Speedo should help him out,

Wow. Why all the hostility toward someone who represented our country so well in the last Olympics? Professional athletes have a very narrow money-making window because the careers they worked all their lives to achieve are all but over by the time they're 30. Most won't see a dime, but a few, those who have poured everything they have into their sport, have a shot to make some money before having to get "real" jobs. Call it meager payback for the sacrifices they've had to make their whole lives. How can anyone begrudge that?

That's great guys. Sure Afghanistan, tough job market, no sympathy. I would feel the same way if this were a guy looking for a handout or a bonus. But how many elite athletes do we have to represent us? Don't you think America has 200K out there somewhere for the best of our best? I bet few people in the country work harder to earn a sponsorship than our olympians. The cold sympathy comments from the "keyboard peanut gallery set" seem misplaced.

As a motivational speaker they paid him $10k - $20k and he did a few in january - he earned as much for those few talks as many people earn all year. He wants a base rate of $200k a year. Get real no spokeman for dooing a few commercials deserves that.

That's great guys. Sure Afghanistan, tough job market, no sympathy. I would feel the same way if this were a guy looking for a handout or a bonus. But how many elite athletes do we have to represent us? Don't you think America has 200K out there somewhere for the best of our best? I bet few people in the country work harder to earn a sponsorship than our olympians. The cold sympathy comments from the "keyboard peanut gallery set" seem misplaced.

I had 16 years in the USAF by the time I was 36. I too was almost to retirement age. I was living the dream. Now I have a post retirement job, grinding the 7-to-5 like everyone else. It might be time to start wearing dress shoes instead of flip flops.

Oh, cry me a river. Try joining the military and getting deployed to Afghanistan.

Yeah, not feeling it. There are no guarantees in anything, much less athletics. Generally, in that line of work, if you're lucky, you have your moment or few years in the sun, then you retire. The endorsements may or may not come. Could he become a swimming coach for future Olympic hopefuls? I would think people would pay him for his expertise.

He's already made the national average, plus he gets a $1750 monthly stipend, plus his wife has an excellent job that pays above average on its own. I have absolutely no sympathy for his position at all when everyone I know is shopping discount grocery stores and worried about having ANY income next week after working hard, living within budgets, and being responsible, productive people. What about the real heroes who fight fires, crime, and the daily grind that are losing their jobs with NO other income as a back-up? Get real. The only tragedy here is anyone thinking there is one.

Boy, that's uhhhhh....hmmm, yeah, that's really...ummmm...yeah, wow, that's really tough. Guess I should cry now. He should sue Michael Phelps for Poolimony

I guess this is news. A guy got to do what he loves as a job for many years, gets paid to talk about it, has a wife who is still employed, still receives a stiipend, and might not be able to buy a house now. I'm crying.

Only a tiny fraction of Olympic competitors ever cash in on their fleeting fame. So he only made $40000 in the month of January? That's the median household income for an entire year in this country. Don't think I'll be shamed into feeling sorry for this guy.