Team Nigeria's top athletes in track and field, including Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the women's 100m hurdles, and Ese Brume, the current Commonwealth gold medalist in women's long jump, have a chance to win a substantial prize of US$50,000 each if they clinch a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This exciting prospect comes after World Athletics announced a groundbreaking decision to award prize money at the Olympic Games, starting with this year's event in Paris. Each individual Olympic champion will receive US$50,000, with relay teams also receiving the same amount to be shared among the team.
In total, there will be 48 athletics events at the Paris Olympics, meaning World Athletics will commit a remarkable US$2.4 million to the prize fund. However, the payment of prize money is subject to the World Athletics ratification process, including athletes undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures. Falilat Ogunkoya, the first Nigerian to win an individual track and field medal at the Olympics, praised World Athletics for this initiative and encouraged Nigerian athletes to strive for gold and a share of the prize money.
Only gold medalists will receive prize money at Paris 2024, but World Athletics has expressed its commitment to extend the prize money at a tiered level to Olympic silver and bronze medal winners at the LA 2028 Olympic Games. The format and structure of the LA28 Olympic bonuses will be announced closer to the time. Athletics at Paris 2024 will feature 48 medal events across track and field, road running, and race-walking, taking place from August 1 to 11 across four venues.
