Gymnast Heath Thorpe Spills The Tea On How He Makes A Living As A Gymnast
Heath Thorpe may be a decorated gymnast, but his sport doesn’t pay the bills. In a recent Instagram Live session, the Aussie athlete revealed that he earns most of his income from social media, not gymnastics.
“Gymnastics Is Not My Job”
According to a report by Queerty, Thorpe shared his thoughts on his career and finances. “The gag is, gymnastics is not my job,” Thorpe said. “I earn all my income essentially from social media, such as brand deals, sponsorships or any other opportunities that arise from it.” This might come as a surprise, considering Thorpe trains for most of the year.
However, like many individual athletes, he doesn’t receive a living wage from his sport’s national federation.
The Harsh Reality of Olympic Funding
Olympic athletes and aspiring Olympians are chronically underfunded, with many earning less than $25,000 annually from their sport. As a result, most Olympians take on second jobs to support themselves.
Out rower Robbie Manson, who participated in his third Games this past Summer, is candid about how he earns more money from posting adult content than competing. “I get more than double what I would be on otherwise as an athlete,” he told Reuters.
Thorpe’s Primary Hustle
Thorpe’s primary hustle centers around content, albeit of a non-explicit variety. He has spent the last year training in Belgium, providing fans with an inside look at his rigorous routine. With more than 260,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, Thorpe has supporters around the world.
One of the reasons why Thorpe connects with people is his authenticity. He shares the ups and downs of his life, such as when he was inexplicably left off Australia’s 2023 World Championships team.
Leveraging His Profile
Though Thorpe didn’t compete in the event, he found his way there, anyway, leveraging his name recognition to work as a reporter. He starred in a similar role at the 2024 Paris Games. “I admittedly was a little nervous, as this was my first TV gig. But by the time Olympics Daily rolled around and we were on air, I felt like a natural,” he reflected on his experience.
Thorpe leans into his queer identity. “Without social media, I would not be able to be a gymnast, but then I also wouldn’t be earning money on social media without being a gymnast,” he said. “They go hand-in-hand.”
While Thorpe intends to keep competing in gymnastics, he isn’t sure about his future on the international circuit. The 24-year-old said on IG he doesn’t know whether he’ll be training for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“If funding improves, I still love what I do and my body (+ mental health) holds up — then yes, I’d love to!” he said. With the Games still four years away, there are a lot of factors at play. Either way, we look forward to following along, enabling Thorpe to make the most of his platform.
