Living the Dream Medal Fund has awarded over $5 million since its 2009 inception; 14 wrestlers earn $380,000 in 2023

Since its creation in 2009, the Living the Dream Medal Fund (LTDMF) has awarded more than $5 million in bonuses to World and Olympic wrestling medalists.

The 14 Senior World Championships wrestling medalists from the USA at the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia were awarded $380,000 in LTDMF bounuses. This pushes the total payouts from the Living the Dream Medal Fund from 2009-2023 up to $5,060,000, impacting 46 different athletes.

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

During World Championship years, the fund awards $50,000 for a World gold medalist, $25,000 for a World silver medalist and $15,000 for a World bronze medalist.

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.

The Living the 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 United States has shown improved performance since the creation of the program, growing the total amount of payments in each of the four-year Olympic quadrennials.

• 2009-2012 Olympic four-year cycle - $775,000
• 2013-2016 Olympic four year cycle - $1,075,000
• 2017-2020 Olympic four year cycle - $1,850,000

So far, the 2021-2024 Olympic cycle is on target to be the best ever. This has been the highest three year World Championships payout ever, with $1,360,000 already awarded during 2021-23. This Olympic cycle  is well positioned to be the best Olympic quadrennial for the program, if the USA has a successful Paris Olympic Games.

The top two athletes in career payouts have received over a half-million dollars in career payments from the program. The highest rewarded athlete through the Living the Dream Medal Fund has been Olympic and six-time World champion Jordan Burroughs, who has amassed $595,000 in bonuses in his career. Olympic champion and three-time World champion Kyle Snyder is the other athlete to earn more than $500,000 from the Living the Dream Medal Fund, at $530,000 in bonuses so far.

Olympic and three-time World champion Helen Maroulis is next with $480,000 in career bonuses. Rounding out the top five are Olympic and three-time World champion David Taylor at $425,000 and Olympic and two-time World champion Tamyra Mensah Stock at $380,000.

USA Wrestling and the U.S. Wrestling Foundation have often hosted functions where Living the Dream Medal Fund recipients are honored and presented with big checks with the Stewards involved. There will be one such activity this week, where 2023 World champions Zain Retherford and Amit Elor and 2023 World bronze medalist Mason Parris will be recognized.

LIVING THE DREAM MEDAL FUND HISTORY, UPDATED

Total since inception (2009-23) - $5,060,000

Total 2023 World Championships payout

$50,000 – Vito Arujau, 2023 men’s freestyle World gold medal (61 kg)

$50,000 – Zain Retherford, 2023 men’s freestyle World gold medal (70 kg)

$50,000 – David Taylor, 2023 men’s freestyle World gold medal (86 kg)

$50,000 – Amit Elor, 2023 women’s freestyle World gold medal (72 kg)

$25,000 – Jacarra Winchester, 2023 women’s freestyle World silver medal (55 kg)

$25,000 – Macey Kilty, 2023 women’s freestyle World silver medal (65 kg)

$25,000 – Kyle Dake, 2023 men’s freestyle World silver medal (74 kg)

$15,000 – Sarah Hildebrandt, 2023 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (50 kg)

$15,000 – Helen Maroulis, 2023 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (57 kg)

$15,000 – Jennifer Page, 2023 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (59 kg)

$15,000 – Adeline Gray, 2023 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (76 kg)

$15,000 – Zahid Valencia, 2023 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (92 kg)

$15,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2023 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (97 kg)

$15,000 – Mason Parris, 2023 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (125 kg)

2023 World Championships total: $380,000

Total 2022 World Championships payout

$50,000 – Dominique Parrish, 2022 women’s freestyle World gold medal (53 kg)

$50,000 – Tamyra Mensah Stock, 2022 women’s freestyle World gold medal (68 kg)

$50,000 – Amit Elor, 2022 women’s freestyle World gold medal (72 kg)

$50,000 – Kyle Dake, 2022 men’s freestyle World gold medal (74 kg)

$50,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2022 men’s freestyle World gold medal (79 kg)

$50,000 – David Taylor, 2022 men’s freestyle World gold medal (86 kg)

$50,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2022 men’s freestyle World gold medal (97 kg)

$25,000 – Helen Maroulis, 2022 women’s freestyle World silver medal (57 kg)

$25,000 – Kayla Miracle, 2022 women’s freestyle World silver medal (62 kg)

$25,000 – Thomas Gilman, 2022 men’s freestyle World silver medal (57 kg)

$25,000 – Yianni Diakomihalis, 2022 men’s freestyle World silver medal (65 kg)

$25,000 – Zain Retherford, 2022 men’s freestyle World silver medal (70 kg)

$25,000 – J’den Cox, 2022 men’s freestyle World silver medal (92 kg)

$15,000 – Sarah Hildebrandt, 2022 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (50 kg)

$15,000 – Mallory Velte, 2022 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (65 kg)

2022 World Championships total: $530,000

Total 2021 World Championships payout

$50,000 - Thomas Gilman, 2021 men’s freestyle World gold medal (57 kg)

$50,000 - Helen Maroulis, 2021 women’s freestyle World gold medal (57 kg)

$50,000 - Kyle Dake, 2021 men’s freestyle World gold medal (74 kg)

$50,000 - Adeline Gray, 2021 women’s freestyle World gold medal (76 kg)

$50,000 - Jordan Burroughs, 2021 men’s freestyle World gold medal (79 kg)

$25,000 - Daton Fix, 2021 men’s freestyle World silver medal (61 kg)

$25,000 - Sarah Hildebrandt, 2021 women’s freestyle World silver medal (50 kg)

$25,000 - Kyle Snyder, 2021 men’s freestyle World silver medal (97 kg)

$25,000 - Kayla Miracle, 2021 women’s freestyle World silver medal (62 kg)

$25,000 - David Taylor, 2021 men’s freestyle World silver medal (86 kg)

$15,000 - Tamyra Mensah Stock, 2021 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (68 kg)

$15,000 - G’Angelo Hancock, 2021 Greco-Roman World bronze medal (97 kg)

$15,000 - Jenna Burkert, 2021 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (55 kg)

$15,000 - J’den Cox, 2021 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (92 kg)

$15,000 - Forrest Molinari, 2021 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (65 kg)

2021 World Championships total: $450,000

2021-2024 Olympic four year cycle

$50,000 – Vito Arujau, 2023 men’s freestyle World gold medal (61 kg)

$50,000 – Zain Retherford, 2023 men’s freestyle World gold medal (70 kg)

$50,000 – David Taylor, 2023 men’s freestyle World gold medal (86 kg)

$50,000 – Amit Elor, 2023 women’s freestyle World gold medal (72 kg)

$25,000 – Jacarra Winchester, 2023 women’s freestyle World silver medal (55 kg)

$25,000 – Macey Kilty, 2023 women’s freestyle World silver medal (65 kg)

$25,000 – Kyle Dake, 2023 men’s freestyle World silver medal (74 kg)

$15,000 – Sarah Hildebrandt, 2023 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (50 kg)

$15,000 – Helen Maroulis, 2023 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (57 kg)

$15,000 – Jennifer Page, 2023 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (59 kg)

$15,000 – Adeline Gray, 2023 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (76 kg)

$15,000 – Zahid Valencia, 2023 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (92 kg)

$15,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2023 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (97 kg)

$15,000 – Mason Parris, 2023 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (125 kg)

$50,000 – Dominique Parrish, 2022 women’s freestyle World gold medal (53 kg)

$50,000 – Tamyra Mensah Stock, 2022 women’s freestyle World gold medal (68 kg)

$50,000 – Amit Elor, 2022 women’s freestyle World gold medal (72 kg)

$50,000 – Kyle Dake, 2022 men’s freestyle World gold medal (74 kg)

$50,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2022 men’s freestyle World gold medal (79 kg)

$50,000 – David Taylor, 2022 men’s freestyle World gold medal (86 kg)

$50,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2022 men’s freestyle World gold medal (97 kg)

$25,000 – Helen Maroulis, 2022 women’s freestyle World silver medal (57 kg)

$25,000 – Kayla Miracle, 2022 women’s freestyle World silver medal (62 kg)

$25,000 – Thomas Gilman, 2022 men’s freestyle World silver medal (57 kg)

$25,000 – Yianni Diakomihals, 2022 men’s freestyle World silver medal (65 kg)

$25,000 – Zain Retherford, 2022 men’s freestyle World silver medal (70 kg)

$25,000 – J’den Cox, 2022 men’s freestyle World silver medal (92 kg)

$15,000 – Sarah Hildebrandt, 2022 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (50 kg)

$15,000 – Mallory Velte, 2022 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (65 kg)

$50,000 - Thomas Gilman, 2021 men’s freestyle World gold medal (57 kg)

$50,000 - Helen Maroulis, 2021 women’s freestyle World gold medal (57 kg)

$50,000 - Kyle Dake, 2021 men’s freestyle World gold medal (74 kg)

$50,000 - Adeline Gray, 2021 women’s freestyle World gold medal (76 kg)

$50,000 - Jordan Burroughs, 2021 men’s freestyle World gold medal (79 kg)

$25,000 - Daton Fix, 2021 men’s freestyle World silver medal (61 kg)

$25,000 - Sarah Hildebrandt, 2021 women’s freestyle World silver medal (50 kg)

$25,000 - Kyle Snyder, 2021 men’s freestyle World silver medal (97 kg)

$25,000 - Kayla Miracle, 2021 women’s freestyle World silver medal (62 kg)

$25,000 - David Taylor, 2021 men’s freestyle World silver medal (86 kg)

$15,000 - Tamyra Mensah Stock, 2021 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (68 kg)

$15,000 - G’Angelo Hancock, 2021 Greco-Roman World bronze medal (97 kg)

$15,000 - Jenna Burkert, 2021 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (55 kg)

$15,000 - J’den Cox, 2021 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (92 kg)

$15,000 - Forrest Molinari, 2021 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (65 kg)

Total for 2021-24 four year cycle so far: $1,360,000 (through year 3)

2017-2020 Olympic four year cycle

$250,000 – Tamyra Mensah-Stock, 2020 women’s freestyle Olympic gold medal (68 kg)

$250,000 – David Taylor, 2020 men’s freestyle Olympic gold medal (86 kg)

$250,000 – Gable Steveson, 2020 men’s freestyle Olympic gold medal (125 kg)

$50,000 – Adeline Gray, 2020 women’s freestyle Olympic silver medal (76 kg)

$50,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2020 men’s freestyle Olympic silver medal (97 kg)

$25,000 – Thomas Gilman, 2020 men’s freestyle Olympic bronze medal (57 kg)

$25,000 – Helen Maroulis, 2020 women’s freestyle Olympic bronze medal (57 kg)

$25,000 – Kyle Dake, 2020 men’s freestyle Olympic bronze medal (74 kg)

$25,000 – Sarah Hildebrandt, 2020 women’s freestyle Olympic bronze medal (50 kg)

$50,000 – Jacarra Winchester, 2019 women’s freestyle World gold medal (55 kg)

$50,000 – Tamyra Mensah Stock, 2019 women’s freestyle World gold medal (68 kg)

$50,000 – Adeline Gray, 2019 women’s freestyle World gold medal (76 kg)

$50,000 – Kyle Dake, 2019 men’s freestyle World gold medal (79 kg)

$50,000 – J’den Cox, 2019 men’s freestyle World gold medal (92 kg)

$15,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2019 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (74 kg)

$15,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2019 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (97 kg)

$50,000 – Adeline Gray, 2018 women’s freestyle World gold medal (76 kg)

$50,000 – Kyle Dake, 2018 men’s freestyle World gold medal (79 kg)

$50,000 – David Taylor, 2018 men’s freestyle World gold medal (86 kg)

$50,000 – J’den Cox, 2018 men’s freestyle World gold medal (92 kg)

$25,000 – Kyle Snyder, 2018 men’s freestyle World silver medal (97 kg)

$25,000 – Sarah Hildebrandt, 2018 women’s freestyle World silver medal (53 kg)

$25,000 – Adam Coon, 2018 Greco-Roman World silver medal (130 kg)

$15,000 – Jordan Burroughs, 2018 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (74 kg)

$15,000 – Nick Gwiazdowski, 2018 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (125 kg)

$15,000 – Joe Colon, 2018 men’s freestyle World bronze medal (61 kg)

$15,000 – Mallory Velte, 2018 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (62 kg)

$15,000 – Tamyra Mensah-Stock, 2018 women’s freestyle World bronze medal (68 kg)

$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 - $1,850,000

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 (70 kg)

$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

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)

$25,000 – Tervel Dlagnev, 2021 men’s freestyle Olympic bronze medal (125 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 - $775,000

Career LDMF bonuses (to 46 athletes)

$595,000 – Jordan Burroughs

$530,000 – Kyle Snyder

$480,000 – Helen Maroulis

$425,000 – David Taylor

$380,000 - Tamyra Mensah Stock

$345,000 –Adeline Gray

$265,000 – Jake Varner

$250,000 – Gable Steveson, Kyle Dake

$180,000 - J’den Cox

$130,000 - Sarah Hildebrandt

$125,000 - Thomas Gilman

$100,000 – Amit Elor

$75,000 - Jacarra Winchester, Zain Retherford

$65,000 – Elena Pirozhkova

$55,000 - Tervel Dlagnev

$50,000 – Logan Stieber, Alli Ragan, Dominique Parrish, Vito Arujau, Kayla Miracle

$40,000 – James Green

$30,000 – Andy Bisek, Nick Gwiazdowski

$25,000 – Coleman Scott, Clarissa Chun, Jake Herbert, Dremiel Byers, Adam Coon, Daton Fix, Yianni Diakomihalis, Macey Kilty

$15,000 – Leigh Jaynes-Provisor, Alyssa Lampe, Ali Bernard, Tatiana Padilla, Becka Leathers, Joe Colon, Mallory Velte, G’Angelo Hancock, Jenna Burkert, Forrest Molinari, Jennifer Page, Zahid Valencia, Mason Parris

Annual LDMF payouts

2009 - $65,000

2010 - $40,000

2011 – $95,000

2012 – $575,000

2013 – $95,000

2014 – $135,000

2015 – $245,000

2016 - $600,000

2017 - $270,000

2018 - $350,000

2019 - $280,000

2020 - $950,000 (awarded after Tokyo Games in 2021)

2021 - $450,000

2022 – $530,000

2023 - $380,000