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 expenses. But this had always been my dream, and I had to pursue it