Free colonoscopies and million dollar paydays: How countries rewarded their Olympic champions

CNN —

Athletes train their whole lives for the opportunity to win an Olympic medal. The step onto the podium is the culmination of a lifetime of effort, determination and sacrifice.

Victorious athletes at Paris received their medal and a box containing the official poster of the Summer Games. But these were not the only rewards many Olympic champions received.

More than 40 nations rewarded their victorious athletes with bonuses of varying levels of generosity. More than 25 nations offered over $100,000 to athletes who returned from Paris with a gold medal.

The US, meanwhile, rewarded its champions with a prize of $37,500. However, this is rather more generous than the bonuses given to athletes from nations like Great Britain, Sweden and Norway who get nothing. But it only puts Team USA 35th on the list of most generous nations.

So as the Paralympics get ready to get underway, CNN Sport takes a look back at some of the eye-popping – and not so impressive – rewards athletes earn for winning Olympic glory.

More than gold

Fencing is not known as the most financially lucrative of sports, but fencers Cheung Ka Long and Vivian Kong from Hong Kong returned home with more than just gold medals. The city-state – in collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club – is very generous to its successful Olympians, paying out HK$6 million, around $770,000, to athletes who win gold.

Hong Kong fencer Cheung Ka Long celebrates after winning a point in the final.

Don’t feel too sorry for Hong Kong’s two bronze medalists, as they were rewarded with HK$1.5 million (over $190,000) for their efforts. All the medal winners can also look forward to free railway tickets for life, courtesy of railway giant MTR.

However, these are far from the