As the 2026 Winter Olympic Games wind down, athletes are packing up their bags with exclusive gear that fans obsessed over in viral TikTok haul videos. Sponsors like Nike, Ralph Lauren and Skims have showered the top athletes in the country with clothing, sneakers, accessories and more. But some Olympians are choosing to sell some of their swag — igniting bidding wars on eBay and stirring debate over whether cashing in on Olympic-issued gear crosses an ethical line.
All 3,800 athletes competing in Milan Cortina were given a limited edition Galaxy Z Flip 7 from Samsung, an official partner of the Olympic and Paralympic games. But within days of receiving their phones, some Team USA athletes appear to have listed them on auction site Ebay, selling theirs for well over $1,000. At least one listing had a “Buy It Now” price of $2,500, though the seller accepted a best offer of an undisclosed lesser amount.
Team USA’s Hahna Norman, who competed in the women’s snowboard big air and slopestyle, revealed in a TikTok that she was thinking of selling some of her Olympic gear. After receiving a slew of comments, she posted a follow-up Q&A explaining her reasoning.
“I think that there’s this perception that when you make it to the Olympics, you’re an elite athlete and you’re making a ton of money,” she said, noting that for most, that is not at all the case.
Norman clarified that while snowboarding at the Olympics and representing Team USA is an incredible honor and opportunity, many Olympians aren’t financially set.
Outside of a few high-profile stars with major sponsorship deals, most athletes don’t have a pile of money to fall back on. And because of the International Olympic Committee’s Rule 40, influencer athletes are also constrained in posting sponsored content that mention the Olympics, making their most valuable posting window the most restrictive.
So, Norman said, selling some extra gear that would otherwise go unused is a great way to earn more income from the Olympic Games.
And she’s far from the only athlete doing this.
On Ebay, an athlete located in Lake Placid, New York, is selling their Ralph Lauren Team USA Anorak for $2,500, and their Closing Ceremony sweater ($1,200) jacket ($3,000) and boots ($1,000). Buyers are warned that items will be shipped “no sooner than February 20 when I return from Milan.” It’s not clear who the athlete is.
Other hot commodities include Team USA’s iconic eagle skirt, the official Olympic plush mascot and pins.
Leading up to the Olympics, Canadian speedskater Ted-Jan Bloemen posted on Facebook, selling gear from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. “Support my journey to the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics by buying this Lululemon kit from the previous Winter Olympics,” the ad read.
Some critics claim it’s not ethical for athletes to sell gear that was gifted to them, but for most of these elite competitors it’s not about cashing in and more about sustaining a dream.
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from NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/nPDBx72
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