How do athletes earn money?

Question

I wanna to ask that how do sporters (athletes, swimmers, footballers, wrestlers and gymnasticers etc...) earn money? Do they have salary or are they earn from sponsors? In Olympics do they earn something expect medallions?

Answer 1

Athletes that play a professional sport have contracts with their teams, so they have a salary.

Athletes such as runners may make appearance and performance money from races, but most of their money comes from endorsement contracts with shoe and clothing companies.

They also do advertisements for related products.  

Answer 2

by playing

Answer 3

Good question i always wondered myself i think some european countries sponsor athletes to bring fame and tourism back to there respective countries