Eileen Gu, Olympian by day, millionaire social media star by night
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who competes for China, leveraged social media to boost her profile, with a recent Instagram reel about her daily routine garnering over a million views in 10 days and contributing to her $23 million earnings in 2025, mostly from endorsements.
- Social media has transformed Olympic athletes into influencers, allowing even those who don't win medals to gain popularity and lucrative sponsorships year-round, as noted by marketing expert Doug Shabelman.
- Athletes like Alex Ferreira use creative content, such as his "Hot Dog Hans" character, to engage audiences and attract endorsements, demonstrating that niche social media presence can generate significant income beyond traditional athletic success.
- Viral moments from lesser-known Olympians, such as Norwegian swimmer
