Most US "elite" female athletes are just Title IX beneficiaries, who otherwise would not be in sport at all: http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/inclusion/title

Most US "elite" female athletes are just Title IX beneficiaries, who otherwise would not be in sport at all: http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/inclusion/title-ix-frequently-asked-questions http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/inclusion/title-ix-frequ... So for most female athletes, like the cyclist in the article, to expect a paid career in sports after college is unrealistic, as they were subsidized by government mandate in the first place. However, there is a market for sports-related models like Danica Patrick and the US women's Olympic soccer team where their athletic performance is really an after-thought. (Danica lost her ride recently because she couldn't win.)