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Living Dream Medal Fund to give out record $270,000 to the nine 2017 U.S. World medalists

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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling

Podium photos of 2017 World champions Kyle Snyder, Helen Maroulis and Jordan Burroughs by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.


With the strong performance of Team USA at the 2017 World Wrestling Championships in Paris, France last week, which featured nine individual World medalists, the Living Dream Medal Fund will give out a record $270,000 in bonuses this year.


The $270,000 payout is the most awarded by the Living Dream Medal Fund (LDMF) in a non-Olympic year since the program was created in 2009. The previous record was set in 2015, when the World Championships were held in Las Vegas, Nev., and the payout was $245,000 to seven medalists.


The 2017 World medalists will receive their bonus checks at special presentations as part of the upcoming multi-city #EveryoneWrestles Victory Tour, with the first stop in Detroit, Mich. on September 9.


In addition, with this year’s bonus payments, the Living Dream Medal Fund has now provided more than $2 million in bonuses to medal-winning wrestlers, with the total reaching $2,095,000 over the nine years of its existence.


For World Championships, the fund provides $50,000 for a gold medal, $25,000 for a silver medal and $15,000 for a bronze medal. During Olympic years, the fund provides $250,000 for an Olympic gold medal, $50,000 for an Olympic silver medal and $25,000 for an Olympic bronze medal. For the Olympic year, the Living Dream Medal Fund provides wrestlers with the highest level of individual bonuses of any Olympic sport in the United States.


The Living Dream Medal Fund provides only bonus payments. Wrestling athletes also receive additional support in the form of stipends and performance bonuses at other specific events, as part of their National Team contracts. Many others receive support from professional jobs, club and RTC support, sponsorships and other income sources.


The three 2017 World champions remain the top three in career LDMF bonus earnings. Jordan Burroughs tops the list with $465,000 career LDMF bonuses, followed by Helen Maroulis at $365,000 and Kyle Snyder next at $350,000.


The Living Dream Medal Fund is led by a group of 13 donors who are called Stewards, along with support from USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

LIVING DREAM MEDAL FUND HISTORY


2017-2020 Olympic four year cycle


$50,000 – Helen Maroulis, 2017 women’s freestyle World gold medal (58 kg)

$50,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2017 men’s freestyle World gold medal (74 kg)

$50,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2017 men’s freestyle World gold medal (97 kg)

$25,000 – Alli Ragan, 2017 women’s freestyle World silver medal (60 kg)

$25,000 – Thomas Gilman, 2017 men’s freestyle World silver medal (57 kg)

$25,000 – James Green, 2017 men’s freestyle World silver medal (70 kg)

$15,000 – Becka Leathers, 2017 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (55 kg)

$15,000 – J’den Cox, 2017 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (86 kg)

$15,000 – Nick Gwiazdowski, 2017 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (125 kg)
Total for 2017-20 cycle so far- $270,000
Total since inception (2009-17) - $2,095,000


2013-2016 Olympic four year cycle

$50,000 – Logan Stieber, 2016 men’s freestyle World gold medal (61 kg)

$25,000 – Alli Ragan, 2016 women’s freestyle World silver medal (60 kg)

$250,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2016 men’s freestyle Olympic gold medal (97 kg)

$250,000 – Helen Maroulis, 2016 women’s freestyle Olympic gold medal (53 kg)

$25,000 – J’den Cox, 2016 men’s freestyle Olympic bronze medal (86 kg)

$50,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2015 men’s freestyle World gold medal (74 kg)

$50,000 – Adeline Gray, 2015 women’s freestyle World gold medal (75 kg)

$50,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2015 men’s freestyle World gold medal (97 kg)

$50,000 – Helen Maroulis, 2015 women’s freestyle World gold medal (55 kg)

$15,000 – Andy Bisek, 2015 Greco-Roman World bronze medal (75 kg)

$15,000 – Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, 2015 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (60 kg)

$15,000 – James Green, 2015 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (

$50,000 – Adeline Gray, 2014 women’s freestyle World gold medal (75 kg)

$25,000 – Elena Pirozhkova, 2014 women’s freestyle World silver medal (63 kg)

$15,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2014 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (74 kg)

$15,000 – Andy Bisek, 2014 Greco-Roman World bronze medal (75 kg)

$15,000 – Tervel Dlagnev,2014 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (125 kg)

$15,000 – Helen Maroulis, 2014 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (55 kg)

$50,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2013 men’s freestyle World gold medal (74 kg)

$15,000 – Adeline Gray, 2013 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (72 kg)

$15,000 – Alyssa Lampe, 2013 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (48 kg)

$15,000 – Elena Pirozhkova, 2013 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (63 kg)
Total for 2013-2016 cycle- $1,075,000
Total since inception (2009-16) - $1,825,000

2009-2012 Olympic four-year cycle

$250,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2012 men’s freestyle Olympic gold medal (74 kg)

$250,000 – Jake Varner, 2012 men’s freestyle Olympic gold medal (96 kg)

$25,000 – Coleman Scott, 2012 men’s freestyle Olympic bronze medal (60 kg)

$25,000 – Clarissa Chun, 2012 women’s freestyle Olympic bronze medal (48 kg)

$50,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2011 men’s freestyle World gold medal (74 kg)

$15,000 – Jake Varner, 2011 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (96 kg)

$15,000 – Adeline Gray, 2011 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (67 kg)

$15,000 – Ali Bernard, 2011 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (72 kg)

$25,000 – Elena Pirozhkova, 2010 women’s freestyle World silver medal (63 kg)

$15,000 – Tatiana Padilla, 2010 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (55 kg)

$25,000 – Jake Herbert, 2009 men’s freestyle World silver medal (84 kg)

$25,000 – Dremiel Byers, 2009 Greco-Roman World silver medal (120 kg)

$15,000 – Tervel Dlagnev, 2009 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (120 kg)

Total for 2009-2012 cycle - $750,000

Career LDMF bonuses

$465,000 – Jordan Burroughs

$365,000 – Helen Maroulis

$350,000 – Kyle Snyder

$265,000 – Jake Varner

$130,000 – Adeline Gray

$65,000 – Elena Pirozhkova

$50,000 – Logan Stieber, Alli Ragan

$40,000 – James Green, J’den Cox

$30,000 – Andy Bisek, Tervel Dlagnev

$25,000 – Coleman Scott, Clarissa Chun, Jake Herbert, Dremiel Byers, Thomas Gilman

$15,000 – Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, Alyssa Lampe, Ali Bernard, Tatiana Padilla, Becka Leathers, Nick Gwiazdowski

Annual LDMF payouts

2009 - $65,000

2010 - $40,000

2011 – $95,000

2012 – $550,000

2013 – $95,000

2014 – $135,000

2015 – $245,000

2016 - $600,000

2017 - $270,000

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