It's been Australia's most successful Olympic medal campaign ever - but the Australian Sports Foundation says that only 26 per cent of the Australian Olympians in Paris are receiving support from a sporting body.
The remainder have been self-funded to achieve their Olympic dreams.
The A-S-F says ongoing financial stability would not only benefit athletes, but boost the national sports results.
Athletes in Australia are supported through various channels — targeted government grants, corporate and philanthropic platforms.
The level of government support varies, depending on the sports organisation, as well as the athlete's results.
The Australian Sports Foundation runs a dedicated platform to help athletes fundraise for any specific needs that might help their career.
The non-profit says there are now more than 1,200 individual athletes, ranging from lower level to elite Olympic level represented on the platform.
The athletes' pledges range from a couple of thousands to tens of thousands dollars — to cover, among other things, travel costs, training, equipment, or physiotherapy.
In August 2023, the A-S-F released the "Running on Empty" report that stated that half of Australia’s elite athletes were earning less than $23,000 a year, which put them below the poverty line.
