Marketplace Morning Report

Episode: What it costs to become an Olympian or Paralympian
Date: February 26, 2026
Host: David Brancaccio
Reporter: Kimberly Adams

Brief Overview

This episode of Marketplace Morning Report delves into the rising costs associated with becoming an Olympic or Paralympic athlete, particularly as the Milan Cortina Paralympic Games approach. The conversation exposes the financial hurdles faced by aspiring athletes—especially those in winter sports—and examines how this financial burden impacts not only their careers, but also the broader accessibility and diversity of elite athletic competition.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

FDA Crackdown on Compounded Weight Loss Drugs (00:55–04:14)

• Current Regulatory Debate:
  The first segment covers the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's intention to regulate compounded versions of GLP1 weight loss drugs, a market currently exploited by compounding pharmacies.
• Regulatory Loopholes:
  • “Compounding laws have a lot of loopholes. If pharmacies were to customize the product...they can continue compounding even though the drug is not in shortage.”*
    — Marta Voshinska, Brookings Institution (01:52)
• Quality and Safety Concerns:
  • “My concern was that the compounding pharmacies have been importing product. That's basically where the company sets their own standards... That makes me very nervous that we don't have a set standard for these products and it's being used by millions of patients.”*
    — Marta Voshinska (03:40)
• Economic Shifts:
  • Major companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have cut their prices, possibly changing the regulatory and commercial landscape.
  • FDA aims to use “all available compliance and enforcement tools” to protect agreements with major pharmaceutical manufacturers. (02:18)
• Quote on Pill Innovation:
  • “The fact that they're now shifting towards selling pills really makes a difference in terms of the ability to produce a lot of product quickly. Injectable products really have major bottlenecks in production.”*
    — Marta Voshinska (03:19)

The True Cost of Becoming an Olympian or Paralympian (06:29–08:02)

• Overview of Expenses:
  Reporter Kimberly Adams highlights the financial strain on athletes aiming for the Olympics or Paralympics, especially in winter sports.
  • Annual costs can average $12,000, but can exceed $100,000 for certain sports with specialized equipment. (06:29–06:54)
• Expert Commentary:
  • “You have a private coach, you have a nutritionist, you have a strength and training conditioner. You have mental health professionals that assist.”*
    — Marta Voshinska, guest expert (06:36)
  • Equipment for some winter sports is especially pricey:
    • “That takes up to 100,000 a year for some of these sports.”*
      — Lisa Noirotti, sports management professor (06:54)
• Family & Personal Sacrifice:
  • Parents often absorb the costs during an athlete’s youth.
  • Adult athletes struggle to balance training with holding steady jobs.
  • “Realistically, you can't just take time off from a standard job multiple times a month and then, you know, best case scenario, you literally have no other time off. You're only spending all your time off to go train and compete.”*
    — Declan Farmer, Paralympic sled hockey gold medalist (07:12)
• Financial Sustainability:
  • Many promising athletes retire young due to financial pressure.
  • “We've had some great sled hockey players retire in their mid-20s... because they just simply, you know, can't make it work financially.”*
    — Declan Farmer (07:31)
• Support Systems:
  • Team USA’s nonprofit and a recent $100 million donation aim to provide support and retirement resources for athletes.
  • Despite this, most athletes self-fund their journey, driven by passion for their sport.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On regulatory loopholes and lack of standards:
  “That makes me very nervous that we don't have a set standard for these products and it's being used by millions of patients.”
  — Marta Voshinska (03:40)

• On high annual athlete expenses:
  “That takes up to 100,000 a year for some of these sports.”
  — Lisa Noirotti (06:54)

• On the impossibility of balancing work and training:
  “Realistically, you can't just take time off from a standard job multiple times a month... You're only spending all your time off to go train and compete.”
  — Declan Farmer (07:12)

• On why athletes persist despite challenges:
  “It's the love of the sport that keeps them going, even if it costs them.”
  — Kimberly Adams (07:56)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:55–04:14: FDA regulation of compounded weight loss drugs with expert insights from Marta Voshinska
• 06:29–07:12: Financial realities and breakdown of costs for Olympic/Paralympic athletes
• 07:12–07:38: Declan Farmer discusses athlete work-life bottlenecks and early retirements
• 07:38–08:02: Current efforts to financially support Team USA athletes & the enduring economic struggle

Conclusion

This episode paints a vivid picture of the financial barriers that shape the dreams and realities of Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls. While some increased nonprofit support and donations offer hope, the overwhelming majority of athletes—especially those in high-cost winter sports—still face enormous personal and family sacrifices. The conversation underscores the need for broader support structures to ensure that athletic excellence isn’t reserved only for those who can afford it.