Every four years, the Summer Olympics garner the strongest, fastest, and most agile athletes from across the globe competing for the chance to obtain ultimate glory. Unfortunately, glory doesn’t pay rent.
Over the past several years, a number of Olympians, such as New Zealand rowing team member Robbie Manson, have used the subscription content creation site OnlyFans to supplement their incomes.
“I get more than double what I would be on otherwise as an athlete,” said the out gay Kiwi athlete during an interview with Reuters. “Read into that what you will, but I am making more OnlyFans than I am from rowing at this stage.”
In a first-person article for Outsports last year, Manson talked about his OnlyFans philosophy:
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“It’s a space where I can authentically express myself through tasteful and artistic means. Drawing from my previous experiences with nude photoshoots and cheeky Instagram posts, I found a potential way to generate the financial support needed to fuel my Olympic dreams. After all, training for the Olympics requires dedication, hard work and, let’s be honest, financial support.
“I want to emphasize that my OnlyFans content aligns with my values and the artistic expression that has always been a part of my journey. It’s not about explicit content but rather a celebration of the human form, sensuality and self-expression. I take pride in creating content that is both intriguing and respectful, offering my fans something worth following.
“I understand that this decision might not align with everyone’s expectations, but I want to stress that dedication to my athletic pursuits remain intact.”I understand that this decision might not align with everyone’s expectations, but I want to stress that dedication to my athletic pursuits remain intact.”
The choice to distribute content is a pragmatic one for Olympians — gay, straight or other — who possess both chiseled physiques and strong queer fan bases. And while OnlyFans is normally notorious for racy images and videos, these athletes’ offerings are less XXX and more PG-13.
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A prime example is Jack Laugher, the twunky, cleft-chinned diver from Great Britain who won a bronze medal for men’s synchronized 3-meter springboard diving on Friday. According to his father, Dave, the 29-year-old merely posts pictures of himself in his swimsuits, which by OnlyFans standards is comparably tame.
“It’s all safe content from Jack’s point of view,” Dave Laugher told the BBC this week. “There’s nothing left to the imagination when you just wear trunks all the time and he just posts pictures of himself as you would see him if he was in a competition. It makes extra money for him and he’s pleased to have the opportunity, but it’s nothing that you couldn’t show your grandma.”
The opportunity to cash in on one’s prestige and photogenic body isn’t just restricted to current competitors. Veteran Olympians such as Matthew Mitcham, the first gay male athlete to earn a gold medal, also utilize OnlyFans. His philosophy is basically, if you got it, flaunt it.
““I’ve invested a lot of time and effort in my body. If people want to see it, I’d be stupid to give it away for free,” the Australian diver explained on his subscription page. “My body, my choice.”
German Olympic diver Timo Barthel is another athlete with an OnlyFans page and his decision to promote himself on the was pragmatic.
“I do it because it’s a very important financial support,” he told Outsports. “The real fans get something and I get support with money. We are not soccer players who earn millions with our sport. I gave all my life for the sport and so I am able for a little easier life. Money is not all, but can help a lot. I have to pay a lot for being able on top level as a diver. One hand wash the other.”
Unlike Laugher, Barthel’s content is more racy: “A picture and a video are coming to you this evening. where I walk naked over my phone. It’s up to you whether you unlock it or no,” one promo to a video says.
