Every Olympics Must Have Its Golden Goose, Er, Golden Girl:

[cali]

The U.S. Finds Its Olympic Star As Mikaela Shiffrin Delivers Gold

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Shiffrin received loads of attention leading up to Sochi, particularly after fellow skier Lindsey Vonn dropped out of the Games with a knee injury. Shiffrin was the cover girl on Sports Illustrated’s Olympic preview issue and featured in a 3,400 word profile in the New York Times. Shiffrin is young, attractive, charismatic and represents the complete package for marketers. She already has a half-dozen endorsement deals, including Oakley and Procter & Gamble PG +0.06%, but her price tag just went up. Shiffrin is focused on her skiing, but recognizes the chance that the Olympics offers. “This is a really great opportunity to build my legacy and build my brand,” she said on a conference call with the media.

Shiffrin pockets a $25,000 bonus from the U.S. Olympic Committee for her gold medal, but her future payday is much larger. The closest comparison to Shiffrin is Vonn, who is also telegenic and made her Olympic debut at age 17. But Shiffrin is well ahead of Vonn already in at least one area. Vonn did not win an Olympic medal until her third trip to the Games in 2010, when she captured a gold and bronze, at age 25. Vonn has parlayed her success and fame into an income of roughly $3 million a year through deals with the likes of Under Armour UA +5.12%, Red Bull , Head and Oakley. Shiffrin has the potential to at least match Vonn off the hill when it comes to endorsement earnings. At 18, Shiffrin could have another decade in the spotlight and earn $30-50 million over her career, barring injury. Professional skiers typically only get the spotlight every four years in the U.S., but it is a major sport in Europe and sponsors are willing to pay up for the best on the mountain.

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2014/02/21/the-u-s-finds-its-olympic-star-as-mikaela-shiffrin-delivers-gold/

[Ron Green]

1. "...to build my legacy and build my brand."

Sigh.

[global1]

2. That's The Meaning Of Going For The Gold......

I wish we'd go back to the old style Olympics - when one had to be an amateur athlete in order to compete. Now we have pros playing in the Olympics. We even have pros representing other countries that they are not from.

Yeah - going for the gold now means going for product and company endorsements. The Olympics now are all about money. It's really no fun to watch anymore.

I'm glad it ending today.

[cpwm17]

6. Pros are just as human as amateurs

The Olympics should have the best athletes regardless of wealth. I understand amateur athletics was started as a way to only allow those that could afford it to participate – it's elitist.

[jsr]

3. It is all about money.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. Hate the game not the playa!

Athletes who compete in most Olympic sports and others have very little chance to earn real money.
They train extraordinarily hard and it can cost a lot of money.

I have ZERO problem with any of them cashing in on this.
The USA has done a better job in supporting Olympians but not all sports get equal attention.

Yes, it will depend partly on looks.
Name ONE Olympian who would turn down any of these deals if they were offered to them.

[cali]

7. say what? I most certainly did not say a word hateful about the "playa"

I think Mikaela is exceptional. I'm a huge ski fan and my son raced through high school. I skied from the time I was 8 until I smashed up my leg.

good job missing the point.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. It was a general comment in response to that article.

Some people slam those who make deals and earn money. They really slam them them if they are attractive.

I'm sorry you felt that was aimed at you. I posted it to that article you posted.
That is a saying that people use when discussing items such as this.

[longship]

5. Whatever magazine would look at Olympic champions as cash cows?

That's right. Forbes!

The only thing important about the Olympics is how much money the champions can parlay their medals into.


Sheesh!

[underpants]

8. Julia Mancuso would have been my choice

[LittleBlue]

10. I would think Sotnikova is the golden girl

17 and minted for life. Plenty of huge multinationals in Russia to pay her sponsorship money. And of course she was a massive PR coup for Putin, who doesn't forget his friends.