Many stars at the 2024 Olympics are not professional athletes
Báo Dân trí•01/08/2024
(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Hong Kong (China) fencer Vivian Kong is a doctor of law. At the 2024 Olympics, many of the athletes competing in France are not professional athletes.
Vivian Kong won the gold medal in the women's sabre event at the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 27th, marking the first gold medal for the Hong Kong (China) sports delegation at the Paris Games. Beyond being a fencer, Vivian Kong also holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Stanford University, a Master's degree in Law from Renmin University of China, and a Doctorate in Law from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In fact, in Western countries, not all sports are professional competitions. Many athletes view training and competing in sports as a side job, with their main occupation and daily income coming elsewhere.
Gabby Thomas of the US track and field team is a nurse (Photo: Getty).
Gabby Thomas, a member of the US track and field team, is a prime example. This 27-year-old holds the record for the women's 200m race at the North American Indoor Games. She previously won a bronze medal in the 200m and a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, in her personal life, Gabby Thomas is a nurse at a medical center in Texas and is currently pursuing a nursing degree. Despite her busy schedule, Gabby Thomas still dedicates time to regular training and hopes to win a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Canyon Barry is a nuclear physics engineer (Photo: Getty).
Canyon Barry of the US 3x3 basketball team is a true scientist . He is currently a nuclear physics engineer at the L3Harris Institute of Technology in Florida. Few people imagine how, given his research-intensive work and the time he spends in the laboratory, Canyon Barry managed to develop his athletic skills before becoming a national athlete in America's most popular sport: basketball. Another impressive name is Nic Fink, a six-time world champion in the men's 200m breaststroke. Nic Fink holds a master's degree in electrical and electronic engineering and graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Nic Fink of the US team is an electrical and electronics engineer (Photo: Getty).
Nic Fink's wife, Melaine Fink, is also a remarkable figure. She won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In the Australian team, water polo player Gemma Beadsworth is a lawyer. She has been a member of the Australian water polo team for several recent Olympics. Gemma Beadsworth's brother, Jamie Beadsworth, is also a member of the Australian men's water polo team. He is a construction worker. Therefore, it's not uncommon for athletes to have other professions besides competing in sports and participating in the Olympics. In fact, to arrange their time to compete in the Olympics, these athletes must obtain permission from their companies or research institutions, and only with their approval can they travel to Paris. Their main professions are in fields ranging from engineering and medicine to the arts. These are their primary sources of income, not their athletic careers.
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