Camryn Rogers Deals With Financial Realities as a Track and Field Professional
French big man Victor Wembanyama, the top pick in the 2023 NBA draft in June, signed a four-year rookie contract with the San Antonio Spurs worth $55.2 million.
Quarterback Bryce Young of Alabama, went No. 1 to the Carolina Panthers in the NFL draft in April and will earn $37.96 million over four seasons.
Cal grad Camryn Rogers, unquestionably the greatest women’s hammer thrower in collegiate history, also began the professional phase of her athletics career this summer.
And how much was graduating to the pros worth to the 24-year-old Canadian, whose resume includes a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships and a fifth-place finish at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics?
“One of the challenges I face this year is I’m currently unsponsored. So I don’t have any sort of big apparel or shoe deal,” said Rogers, who ranks No. 2 in the world in her event this year, No. 5 all-time.
Rogers receives financial support from her national federation and the top international meets pay for her travel and hotel costs. But she has other expenses just like the rest of us, and continues to get coaching from Cal throws specialist Mohamed Saatara.
“That’s been one thing coach Mo and I have had to sort of figure out, what that whole environment looks like,” she said.
If Rogers were a 100-meter dash star at the same level she occupies in her event — much less a young NBA or NFL player — the financial aspect would be different.
“For throwing, you have to be like top, top, top, to get a deal,” she said.
Anita Włodarczyk shows off her 2017 World Championships gold medal.
Photo by Kirby Lee, USA Today
At the top, top, top is Poland’s Anita Włodarczyk, the 38-year-old world-recordholder who has a reported net worth of $1.5 million, thanks to contracts with Adidas and PKN Orlen, a Polish multinational energy oil refiner and petrol retailer company. She also is the brand ambassador of Stadion Śląski, a sports stadium in Chorzów, Poland.
Of course, as the reigning three-time Olympic champion, four-time world champion and four-time European champion, Włodarczyk is the Babe Ruth of the women’s hammer throw.
Also making headway financially is American record-holder Brooke Andersen, who beat Rogers for the 2022 world title in Eugene. Anderson, who will turn 28 this month, didn’t have sponsorship until signing a deal with Nike last summer. Previously, she worked nights at a Chipotle restaurant in Phoenix after training during the day.
“With maybe some other events, because there is more funding, more people have the opportunity to get sponsored,” Rogers said. “Which is unfortunate because I think it means a lot of people end up getting pushed out of the sport because they can’t afford it.”
Rogers has a European-based agent familiar with the hammer event who helps her gain entry into meets. Rogers said she and Saatara have planned for this stage in her career, aware that money would not immediately be flowing.
She is now eligible for competition prize money, and the World Championships award $70,000 to gold medalists, $35,000 to runners-up and $22,000 to third-place finishers.
Having completed a master’s degree in cultural studies in sport and education, Rogers will begin a job in September working as a special education advocate.
“That will be very meaningful work because you’re helping get these kids and families the support they need from the education system,” she said.
“It will also sort of be a new step, similar to how you balance school and training. I’ll have work and training.”
And a paycheck to help keep her athletic career afloat.
After receiving aid in the form of an athletic scholarship, navigating the financial side of a pro career is a complicated process.
“It’s been a good learning experience to realize it’s not personal, it’s just business, when it comes to being sponsored,” she said. “That’s very freeing, to know this isn’t about me. It allows me to focus more on what we’re trying to do.”
Cover photo of former Cal track and field star Camryn Rogers
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo