Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and the Fiji Rugby Union has so far received $1 150,500 after the national 7s team won the gold medal at 2016 Rio Olympics last month.

Yesterday, the Vodafone-led FRU consortium of sponsors joined the government and corporate organisations by contributing $340,000.

The consortium of sponsors includes Fiji Airways, C.J Patel Group of Companies, Telecom Fiji Limited and HFC Bank.

The team of 17 players and officials will receive $20,000 each.

From the total donation each team member has so far received $67,676.47 in recognition of their gold medal achievement in Rio.

Life changing experience

Winning a gold medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience and you can’t put a price on it.

Compared to other countries according to the SUN UK, USA athletes receive £19,000 (F$52,305.20) for winning gold.

Singapore on the other hand, 21-year-old swimmer Joseph Schooling who won gold in the men‘s 100m butterfly beating favourite Michael Phelps was awarded the handsome sum of £572,260 (F$1,568,818.58)

He was the first Singaporean ever to take gold in an Olympic event.

Kazakhstan pay out £174,793 (F$479,185.17) to each gold medal winner while Italy’s men’s Omnium (track cycling) hero Elia Viviani pocketed £140,595(F$385,433.28).

The French equestrian team contributed five out of the eight gold medals and each player received £50,158( $137,505.33).

Russian athlete Darya Klishina who won gold in the women’s Long jump received £46,358 (F$127,087.85).

South African athletes get £27,359 (F$75,000) per gold medal while German winners get £15,199 (F$41,667.20) and Australians take home £11,39 (F$31,249.72)

Other countries, including the UK, don’t offer cash bonuses to medalists.

Of course, top athletes in the most popular sports can rack up millions through endorsements, sponsorships and paid appearances. Gymnast Gabby Douglas has a reported net worth of $3 million, while swimmer Michael Phelps boasts a reported net worth of £$55 million (F$151.41m).

Edited by Osea Bola

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