Menu
Marketing and Sponsorship

Para-Cyclist Jamie Whitmore Says U.S. Behind Europe In Treatment Of Para-Athletes

Jamie Whitmore
The U.S. has some catching up to do regarding the treatment of para-athletes, Team USA para-cyclist Jamie Whitmore said. The 40-year-old California native, who will compete in the U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, told SBD Global that Europe is “quite a bit ahead” of the U.S. in terms of its support of para-athletes. “Most European countries treat their para-athletes pretty equal to their pro athletes,” she said. “They have access to all the same programs. But those are all federally funded.” In comparison, U.S. Paralympics, which is a division of the United States Olympic Committee, does not receive any federal funding from the U.S. government. Whitmore said that both funding structures have their advantages and disadvantages, but in her words, being an athlete “is always hard.” Whitmore was a successful cross triathlete, winning 37 Xterra championship titles, before a cancer diagnosis cut her career short in ’08. She beat the cancer twice, but it left her with “drop foot.” Doctors told her she would never run or ride again. After a painful recovery, she won her first Paralympic national title in ’12. But resilience alone is not enough to make her childhood dream of competing in the Olympics -- now Paralympics -- come true. Whitmore relies heavily on the financial support from her sponsors. “As a professional athlete you are moreso living out your dream than you are trying to make it rich,” she said. “Being a para-athlete is even more of a struggle because I think our movement is still growing.” Whitmore was able to retain some sponsors from her pre-cancer triathlon days such as Felt Bicycles and Cliff Bar. Surprisingly, she said, being a para-athlete has also opened up some new doors for her. “There are companies out there that are starting to see the value in a person who has overcome a lot and then returns to sport,” she said. Whitmore, similar to other para-athletes, generates additional income through speaking engagements. Team USA Paralympians also take advantage of official USOC partners such as Deloitte, BMW or The Hartford. Whitmore, for example, is a member of Team Deloitte. She is also part of TeamUP, which is backed by orthotics and prosthetics maker Allard. Whitmore, who won the ESPY for “Best Female Athlete with a Disability” in ’14, believes that NBC’s expanded coverage of this year’s Rio Paralympic Games and the inclusion of para-sports events alongside able-bodied competitions will help educate the public and open new opportunities for para-athletes. “I believe even 10 years ago it wasn’t as good as it is now,” she said. “It’ll just continue to get better.”

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2016/07/01/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Whitmore.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2016/07/01/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Whitmore.aspx

CLOSE