Olympic Champion Turns to OnlyFans to Fund Bobsleigh Career
German bobsledder Lisa Buckwitz, like many elite athletes, faces the significant financial burden of self-funding her training regime. However, the 2018 Olympic gold medalist has adopted an unconventional approach to covering these costs, revealing she finances her sporting career through proceeds from her OnlyFans subscription page.
Without this income stream, the 31-year-old Berlin native admits she might not be preparing for next month's Milan-Cortina Winter Games. 'It's a stroke of luck for me, as it allows me to finance my team,' Buckwitz told German publication Bild. 'It's the best thing that could have happened to me.'
The Financial Reality of Elite Sport
Buckwitz estimates that a single bobsleigh season costs approximately $60,000, with substantial expenses coming from international travel and specialized equipment. While she receives some funding through her former service in the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), this support alone proves insufficient for her training needs.
Interestingly, the Bundeswehr assists around 850 Olympians with training costs according to multiple reports, though many athletes still require additional income sources to compete at the highest level.
Redefining Sponsorship in Modern Sport
The Olympic champion doesn't view her OnlyFans presence as unusual, instead considering it a practical sponsorship arrangement. 'For me, it's a sponsor that, alongside my service in the German Armed Forces, makes the sport possible,' she explained. 'So something completely normal.'
Buckwitz maintains that her content doesn't include full nudity, though she acknowledges being photographed nude for German Playboy in the past. Her current approach focuses on offering fans exclusive behind-the-scenes access to her Olympic preparation while maintaining what she describes as a tasteful presentation.
Behind the Scenes of an Olympic Journey
On her Instagram platform in 2024, the athlete outlined her content strategy: 'This partnership is all about sharing the heart and hustle behind my bobsleigh journey — showing you the grit, the goals, and everything in between. From intense training days to the exhilaration on race day, I'm inviting you behind the scenes to experience what it truly takes to push limits at the highest level.'
Her subscription packages range from $59.98 for three months access to $194.92 for a full year, providing regular income to support her athletic ambitions.
A Champion's Perspective on Funding Challenges
Despite her pragmatic approach, Buckwitz expresses some disappointment about the financial pressures facing elite athletes. 'It's a bit sad that I can't just focus on my competitive sport,' she admitted. 'Sure, I'm an Olympic champion. But nobody's interested in Lisa Buckwitz just because of the gold medal. That's unfortunately the downside.'
The bobsledder has experienced both triumph and disappointment in her career, winning gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in the two-woman event before finishing fourth at the 2022 Beijing Games. She's currently in a relationship with fellow German bobsledder Hans Peter Hannighofer, with the couple photographed together at a Berlin event in July 2023.
As Buckwitz prepares for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, her story highlights the ongoing financial challenges facing many elite athletes who must find innovative ways to fund their sporting dreams while maintaining competitive excellence on the world stage.
