The 2016 Olympic Games are slated to begin this summer in Rio, but the world is actually focusing more on the Zika Virus than anything else. When the wealthiest participant in the games, Rory McIlroy, decided to drop out over concerns about the virus – and many other famous athletes followed suit – despite the fact that golf is making its comeback this year, the world went crazy. Of course they did; this is big news. It’s the Olympics and Rio has not been making them look good yet, and that’s upsetting to many people. The summer Olympics don’t happen every year, and the people chosen to participate and represent their countries work hard to make that a reality.
When we should be focused on the athletes and their incredible skill, we’re actually focusing on mosquitoes and the body parts that just keep washing up on the beach where the volleyball games are slated to be held. It’s not exactly great publicity, no matter how many times you say any publicity is good publicity.
Before you start criticizing those who choose to withdraw their name from the ballot and skip the Olympics, let’s remember one thing; these people are scared of a number of things and none of us can be upset about that. What we can be upset about is the fact that these are the Olympics. This is where we get to see the best of the best of the even better compete to bring home bragging rights and medals and a lot of potential for their own careers following their wins. If the best of the best (think Rory McIlroy) are dropping like flies and leaving vacancies on these teams, can it really be considered the Olympics? The best aren’t there, so who is left?
I’m not personally invested in the Olympics in any way, shape or form other than the sheer entertainment of it, but what country wants to brag about being the best when they competed against other countries whose best decided they were more concerned with their own health and safety? It seems to me this takes some of the fun out of it. It’s like being the college football team that gets to play for the coveted National Championship but the other best team backs out at the last minute and you’re left to play number three. That’s not nearly as much fun.
Either way, though, Olympians are making serious bank. It’s not their Olympic performances that make them millions upon millions of dollars; they don’t get paid for this. Endorsements, wins and their other life ventures, however, are killing it as far as these athletes are concerned (Rory McIlroy, for example, is worth a reported $422 million). Read on to find out which Olympics athletes are headed to Rio with the biggest bank accounts.
Roger Federer – $350 million
He gets to claim the top spot since McIlroy backed out, but he’s done a fairly good job of earning it. the famed tennis player has been blowing the competition out of the water for years, and it’s no mystery how he made it to number four on Forbes’ list of highest paid athletes for the year. At the moment he’s looking to add to his impressive career with some Olympic gold to add to his many other medals, wins and accomplishments. Unfortunately for American tennis players, he plays for Switzerland.
Maria Sharapova – $195 million
She’s gorgeous and amazingly talented on the tennis court, but she tested positive for some drugs that are banned by her sport. That caused her entire career to crash down around her, but she’d already built a substantial net worth. Now she’s working hard to make sure she’s able to secure some new deals and that means playing for the Russian Olympic team in 2016.
Novak Djokovic – $160 million
Back in 2008, he won a bronze medal. That’s all. He’s not that impressive in the games, but he will be playing for gold this year, and he might just stand a chance being the number one rated male tennis player in the world. Of course it’s well known that many of his biggest competitors are currently out with injuries, but who is counting?
Serena Williams – $145 million
One half the best duo of tennis players in the world, she’s the better player, the wealthier player and the more famous player. She’s also a force with which to be reckoned, and she’s not someone you want to mess with. Serena Williams is everything that is amazing in the world, and she’s not afraid to admit that to anyone. She’s to more than her fair share of awards already, but she’s going to add several more to her resume in Rio – if that can beat being the only female athlete to get paid more than any other in the history of sports for one prize.
Kevin Durant – $120 million
Basketball players would rather play for a championship win than Olympic Gold, which is why most of the US team has dropped out of the race so far. However, Kevin Durant has said time and time again that he will be in Rio to play and he’s not allowing anything to get in his way of potential gold. He plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he’s good. He’s not afraid to join the All-Star team and take the gold in the sport, which he likely will do.
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