The heartbreaking reality - and staggering numbers - of teams cut during the pandemic
Since March, a staggering number -- 352 -- of NCAA sports programs have been cut, and the vast majority have been Olympic sports. The most common reason cited: budget shortfalls due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It's hard to know what these sudden sports cuts might do to the Olympic pipeline: At Stanford, the 11 sports that were cut in July are responsible for at least 25 Olympic medals since 1912. Nearly 80% of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team competed in collegiate athletics at varsity and club levels.
"This is the time to think outside of the box," said Sarah Wilhelmi, director of collegiate partnerships for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, to ESPN last week, "and find innovative ways to make sure these athletes still get the necessary training and the ability to keep dreaming to compete at the Olympics."
While the lasting impact is tough to determine immediately, the heartbreak these athletes feel now is immediate.The program cuts have upended something they've worked for and dreamed about since they were kids. We talked to five athletes who have been affected. These are their stories:
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