U.S. Champions Offered 'Real Gold' for the First Time Since 1912 — Olympian Lauryn Williams Explains Why It Matters (Exclusive) ...Saudi Arabia

The 2026 Winter Olympics are officially in the books, and what a run for Team USA.

A record-shattering 12 gold medals. Alysa Liu becoming the first American woman in 24 years to win figure skating gold. The men’s hockey team beating Canada in overtime for its first Olympic gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”

And then, in a moment that went viral for all the wrong reasons, multiple athletes watched their medals crack or detach mid-celebration — a reminder that Olympic “gold” is actually 92.5% silver with just six grams of gold plating. They haven’t been solid gold since 1912, according to CBS News. 

Modern day Olympic Medals are basically worthless, sterling silver and a Gold Coating! A Gold Medal isn’t really Gold anymore since 1912. pic.twitter.com/r3lETkIigJ

It’s a fitting metaphor for a system that celebrates its athletes loudly and compensates them far more quietly. Earlier this month, Fortune reported that many Olympic athletes earn little to nothing directly from competing, often juggling multiple jobs while absorbing training costs that can reach well into the five or even six figures each year. 

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Recent headlines have made that reality harder to ignore. In January, Travis and Jason Kelce donated $10,000 so U.S. hockey player Laila Edwards’ family could attend the Games. The year before, Flavor Flav stepped in as an official sponsor of USA Water Polo after team captain Maggie Steffens spoke publicly about athletes needing second and third jobs to keep competing. Other athletes have openly discussed turning to subscription platforms like OnlyFans to help fund training and travel.

Laila can officially say she won Gold in front of her family ❤️? @YouTube @NBC Olympics & Paralympics #WinterOlympics #sponsored

That backdrop is what four-time Olympian Lauryn Williams says people often miss when they picture Olympic success. "The majority are not earning massive endorsement deals or multimillion-dollar salaries," Williams, 42, told Parade exclusively. "Many are living on stipends, part-time work, or inconsistent sponsorship income that can change year to year or disappear after an injury or Olympic cycle."

Williams is the first American woman to medal in both the Summer and Winter Olympics — silver in the 100-meter dash in Athens, gold in the 4x100 relay in London, and silver in bobsled in Sochi. A chance conversation with hurdler Lolo Jones led her to try the sport just six months before competing. Today, she’s a Certified Financial Planner and founder of Worth Winning, a virtual firm she built after realizing how confusing the financial system can be for athletes and young professionals. 

Her path into finance was shaped by experience. In her early twenties, Williams landed a six-figure Nike deal and hired a financial advisor who sold her a million-dollar life insurance policy she didn’t need. “I assumed that if someone had the title, they must be acting in my best interest,” she said. She eventually traded that income for a $12-an-hour financial planning internship, a long bet on herself that paid off.

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That work has given Williams a front-row seat to how unpredictable athlete income can be. “I once worked with an Olympic gold medalist who earned $100,000 in the year they won their medal — and just $30,000 the following year,” she said. “Neither number fits the stereotype of what people think it means to be an Olympian. That’s why some athletes end up in debt — not because they were irresponsible, but because the cost of competing at the highest level is enormous, and the financial return on that investment isn’t the same for everyone.”

It’s that financial gap gold investment app Vaulted, backed by McAlvany Financial Group’s 50-plus years in precious metals, is aiming to address. The company announced today it will award “$30,000 in pure, physical gold through its app for each first-place finish for both individual athlete contributors and overall team efforts — assets that don’t just sit on a mantle but actually accrue in value.”

“We’re moving the conversation from trophies to true wealth,” Vaulted CEO David McAlvany said in the official press release. “These athletes have produced so much value for their country, yet they retain the least financial security. We’re giving them $30,000 in real gold that they can hold, track or sell right from their phone. It’s wealth that works as hard as they do.”

Williams says that distinction — having something athletes can actually control — is what makes the difference. "Recognition is meaningful, but recognition you can actually use is what creates real opportunity," she explained. "The no-strings-attached approach gives athletes the power to choose what's right for them."

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McAlvany told Parade the idea was personal from the start.

"I’ve been locked in as a fan of elite athletes since I was a child. We all see the highlight reels, but I've always taken notice of the quieter stories of financial struggles these competitors face," he said. "A staggering number live below the poverty line. They delay careers and shoulder massive medical costs, all to reach a pinnacle that — financially speaking — is often a cliff. That felt wrong to me. If you achieve the absolute limit of human performance, that victory shouldn't be a liability. It should be a foundation, one that our company can help build up.”

As for Williams, her message for athletes watching from home is simple: "Your journey isn't measured only by your achievements — it's measured by who you become along the way," she said. "So get your a** off the couch and get started on your next big thing."

Hence then, the article about u s champions offered real gold for the first time since 1912 olympian lauryn williams explains why it matters exclusive was published today ( Thursday 26/02/2026 - 04:24 PM ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

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