Alica Schmidt reveals how little you earn in athletics

Alica Schmidt is one of the best 400 meter runners in Germany, but she can't make a living from it. She spoke candidly about the dismal pay on offer for those looking to pursue a career in athletics in a recent TikTok video.

“If we are in the squad, i.e. in the national team, we receive 700 euros (£610, $740 US) from Sporthilfe,” the high-profile track and field athlete revealed.

And what about the clubs? According to Alica Schmidt, there is the possibility of getting some money every month through the club, but "it's usually not so much that you can live on it alone." Some people don't get anything at all, she explains. In her case,  she runs for SC Charlottenburg – although this amounts to "only a small sum" in compensation.

At many competitions, athletes aren't compensated at all, and even worse actually have to pay out of their own pockets "because you have travel and hotel costs that are not always covered," the German athlete explained.

It's understandable that athletes are looking for alternatives. "Most of us study part-time in order to build up a second source of income, or even have mini-jobs that we do on the side." Alica Schmidt is also studying media and communication management via distance learning.

The Bundeswehr or the Federal Police offer an opportunity to earn money and still have time for training and competitions. According to Schmidt, an athlete in the Bundeswehr earns around 2,500 euros a month. The only condition – you have to be present for a four to six week course. Otherwise, you can focus completely on the sport. In the Federal Police you would get a similar salary, but you would be required to work more hours. The star sprinter explained this on TikTok.

Alica Schmidt calls the Bundeswehr and the police a “very good” solution, but there are few other options. "Most of the time there are only two places available per discipline. This means that only very few athletes have the opportunity to get in."

You also have to take care of sponsors yourself, which is especially difficult for people without a large social media presence, emphasizes Alica.

That's probably not a problem for her. After all, she has two million followers on TikTok and 4.6 million on Instagram.

With her exceptional athletic skills and stunning looks, she has garnered a lot of attention and is able to make money from social media. Unfortunately, Schmidt does not reveal exactly how much she earns from her social media appearances, as Bild reports.

Alica Schmidt's revelations about the precarious situation in German professional sports make it clear that football and tennis, with their record sums, are exceptions.

Alica Schmidt still loves her sport and is now pinning her hopes on Paris 2024. We'll keep our fingers crossed for her.