SPEAK OUT by Katie Uhlaender Closing the Olympic pay gap For over two decades, I have competed internationally across multiple sports and in five Olympic Games in skeleton. Over that time, I have learned that the biggest issue in sports is not what most people think. It is not politics. It is not cultural debates. It is power. Power consolidates where it is most efficient—typically where the money is. It determines who controls access to competition, opportunity, and the economic value athletes create within the Olympic movement. If we want fairness in sport—especially for women—we must shift the conversation away from cultural or political battles and address the structural imbalance of power that defines the modern sports system. Sport should rise above division and reflect shared values: respect, community, and integrity. Society often looks to sport to model these ideals. Yet Olympic sports depend on athletes’ labor while athletes absorb most of the financial risk. Many live at or below the poverty line while training, working, and representing their country. They pay for coaching, travel, equipment, and medical care while competing at the highest level. This reality persists even as billions of dollars flow through the Olympic ecosystem via broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and global events. Between the Paris 2024 and Salt Lake City 2034 Games, analysts project more than $15 billion will move through the U.S. Olympic system. Yet direct revenue sharing for athletes remains at zero. This is not simply a pay gap—it is a structural imbalance of power, care, safety, and contribution. For women, that imbalance is even more pronounced. Female athletes already face disparities in sponsorship, media coverage, and professional opportunities. When the financial system denies athletes a share of the value they create, women are disproportionately affected. To address this, the conversation must shift in three key ways. First, from culture wars to economic justice. For decades, debates around women’s sports have focused on symbolic issues— important, but often symptoms of a deeper imbalance. Athletes are the foundation of the sports industry. The performances and stories that inspire millions would not exist without them. Yet those who create the value are often the least financially secure. Economic fairness is not about entitlement—it is about sustainability. Athletes deserve a viable pathway to live, train, and compete at the highest level. Second, we must examine power in sports governance. Title IX transformed access to sport for women and girls, and its impact is undeniable. But access alone does not address how power operates within the system. Governing bodies control eligibility, rankings, qualification pathways, and competition access—effectively shaping an athlete’s entire career. When a small group of institutions controls these levers, the system can resemble a closed market rather than open competition. That is why legal scholars increasingly analyze sports governance through antitrust law. The Sherman Act was designed to prevent monopolistic control—and in sport, the “market” is opportunity itself. The Supreme Court’s decision in the NCAA’s Alston case made clear that sports organizations are not above competition law, opening the door to billions in compensation for college athletes. Olympic athletes are now asking the same question: if athletes create the value, why are they excluded from the economic system built around them? Finally, structural power—not symbolic policy—is what truly protects athletes. Sport organizations emphasize safeguarding policies, but those policies cannot succeed without addressing the underlying power imbalance. Without structural power, athletes cannot negotiate, challenge unfair systems, or ensure accountability. In professional sports, players’ associations and collective bargaining agreements help balance power between leagues and athletes. Olympic sport has yet to develop comparable structures. Creating a more equitable system would not weaken sport—it would strengthen it. Sport remains one of the world’s most powerful cultural forces. It teaches discipline, resilience, teamwork, and respect. It also serves as a platform for diplomacy and global connection. But for sport to inspire, there must be trust in the system. Women’s sports are growing rapidly. Viewership is rising, sponsorship investment is increasing, and a new generation of female athletes is emerging with greater ambition and visibility than ever before. This momentum presents a critical opportunity. If we build a system rooted in fairness, transparency, and economic inclusion, we can strengthen women’s sports while reinforcing the integrity of the institutions that govern them. The United States has a unique opportunity to lead this transformation. With the Olympic Games returning to U.S. soil in Los Angeles in 2028, we can demonstrate that sport reflects the values our nation aspires to uphold: fairness, opportunity, and accountability. Fairness in sport is not only about athletes—it is about the values we pass on to the next generation. KATIE UHLAENDER is a five-time Olympian, World Champion and Columbia University student. enterprising Women 113
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