Alica Schmidt: "You can't make a living from athletics"

The brutal truth

Alica Schmidt might be one of Germany’s fastest women, but it’s hardly paying the rent. The athlete revealed to her fans on social media just how tough it is to make a living from athletics.

700 euros as a member of the national team

"If we are in the squad, i.e. in the national team, we receive 700 euros (£610/$740 US) from Sporthilfe," the high-profile track and field athlete revealed.

Competitions offer little as well

At a lot of competitions, athletes don’t earn anything – and sometimes, it’s even worse. "You often have to cover travel and hotel costs yourself," Schmidt said, "so you actually end up paying to compete."

Almost everyone is looking for a second or third source of income

As a result, most track and field athletes, no matter how decorated, have to find other ways of making money. "Most of us study part-time in order to build up a second source of income, or even have mini-jobs that we do on the side." Schmidt is also studying media and communication management via distance learning.

One lifeline for athletes in Germany

In Germany, there is something of a lifeline. According to Schmidt, athletes in the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) can earn around €2,500 a month (approx. $2,725 / £2,130), with the main requirement being a four- to six-week training course. After that, they can focus almost entirely on their sport. The Federal Police pays a similar salary, she explained in a TikTok video, but expects more regular work hours in return.

Limited spots

Schmidt says the Bundeswehr and the police are "a very good" solution – if you can get it. "Most of the time there are only two places available per discipline. This means that only very few athletes have the opportunity to get in."

Looking for sponsors

You also have to take care of sponsors yourself, which is especially difficult for people without a large social media presence, emphasizes Schmidt.

Schmidt has sponsors

That's probably not a problem for her. After all, she has over two million followers on TikTok and 6 million on Instagram.

She makes a living from social media appearances

With her exceptional athletic skills and marketable image, she has garnered a lot of attention and is able to make money from social media. Unfortunately, Schmidt does not reveal exactly how much she earns from her social media appearances, as Bild reports.

Living off professional sports in Germany? Difficult

Schmidt's revelations about the precarious situation in German professional sports make it clear that football and tennis, with their record sums, are exceptions.