>>I'd understand if someone spent most of their life and resources training to be the best, won a medal and got some money for it. They probably aren't getting cash flow from anywhere else.
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>That's what I was getting at. AFAIK most of these athletes are there on donations and the efforts of volunteers to raise money for them. I doubt if many of them have sufficient personal or even family resources to afford to train for and compete in the Olympics. Without impuning anyone's integrity in the least, the temptation to sell a solid gold medal might be strong in some cases, even if only to partially repay those who supported them. I would understand that temptation, but from the POV of the Olympics it would be scandalous if it became widespread practice to sell the medals for the value of the gold in them.

Many of them get paid by their respective countries/oly committees. Some also get bonuses based on how high they place.