David Ramos/Getty ImagesMonica Aksamit is a 35-year-old Olympian who won bronze for fencing in 2016.Her mom, her coaches, and her prize funded her passion at the start.When she made the USA Olympic team in 2016, she was paid $300 a month and fell into credit card debt. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Monica Aksamit. It has been edited for length and clarity. When I ask people how much they thought I earned as a US Olympian, they always guess an amount far above what I actually got paid. During the years I was part of the US fencing team from 2016 to 2021, I made $300 a month. This was the pinnacle of my fencing career, and yet I wasn't making enough to cover my living...
