Here's how much it costs to become an Olympic figure skater (2024)

• Figure skating is one of the most glamorous sports in theWinter Olympics— but it's not cheap.
• Figure skaters are required to spend money onelaborate costumes, private coaches, skates, travel, physical therapy, and more.
• It can cost between $35,000 and $50,000 a year, if not more.

Figure skating is one of themost popular sports in the Winter Olympics.But just how much does it actually cost to become an Olympic figure skater?

It turns out that dedication, perseverance, and a pretty costume do not a successful Olympian make: skaters have to shell out an insane amount of cash — between$35,000 and $50,000annually — to even qualify for the Olympics, let alone take home the gold.

So where does all the money go? Let's break it down.

Practice time and private lessons

Intermediate skaters and above will require — at minimum — three to four 45-minute practice sessions per day, about six times a week. Olympian skaters are likely training for longer, and Money, after interviewing skaters' families, estimates that private coaching fees range from $65 to $120 per hour.

Calculate in the costs of supplemental coaches and choreographers, which can run between $1,500 to $5,000 annually for a single program, per Money, and you're already spending well over $1,000 a week just to train.

Costumes, skates, and beauty

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John Gaps III/AP

While handmade outfits were the norm back in the day, these days most skaters solicit high-end designers to create their showstopping costumes. These can cost anywhere between $500 and $5000, with The Gloss estimating the median price for an Olympic dress to be around $3,000— and that's not including skates, which can set you back around $1,000 to $1,500 at the Olympic level.

Unfortunately for competitors, skates and costumes aren't recyclable. It's standard for Olympians to wear out their skates annually, and that's not to mention the price of upkeep; skating blades need to be sharpened, and laces need to be maintained.

Finally, figure skaters often choose to shell out cash for professional hair and makeup services, which run between $90-$140 per application.

Travel and miscellaneous costs

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Airfare isn't cheap, and skaters are not only tasked with flying themselves out to various arenas and venues to compete, but often will end up paying for their coach's travel expenses as well, which can cost up to $10,000 per year. Per Money, many skaters will also spring for regular physical therapy and massages to ensure that they're at optimal capacity, which can run up to $350 per session.

Also important to note is that most Olympic skaters begin their careers extremely early — and the costs rack up every year. United States competitor Bradie Tennell recently shared an Instagram throwbackof her second competition; she was six years old. Now, 14 years worth of private lessons and countless pairs of outgrown skates later, she's competing at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Want more? Read all of our coverage of the Winter Olympics here.

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