Financing the Olympic Dream

Watching the Olympics these past two weeks has made me wonder how do these athletes do it? How do they afford to keep training and competing on basically no income.
Julia Mancuso, gold medalist in the giant slalom had help from her father.
"He came over when I was struggling a couple of years ago, arranged to get a car and a trainer in Austria, and also with an apartment," Mancuso said. "It's been really great to have that kind of support."
But that wasn't until he served five years in jail for what authorities said was his role in operating a $120 million marijuana distribution ring.
He was able to keep most of his assets in the plea bargain, and also has his hand in some real estate development business.
Maybe now those T-shirts and sweatshirts Mancuso brought to Italy will sell a little better. The 20 pair of "Super Jules" underwear she brought "might be the biggest sellers," she said.
In case you don't remember Mancuso, she skied some early races with no helmet just a tiara. Picabo Street ripped her, calling her immature and said "lose the tiara."
With her gold medal run, Mancuso said "up yours Picabo" and "thanks dad" and "thanks potheads, couldn't have done it without you."