Without Action From Congress, Team USA’s Dominance is at Risk

Authors: American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA), College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)

Following Team USA’s impressive performance in the 2024 Olympic Games, the vital role that American college sports played in the talent pipeline to our Olympic rosters was on full display. This year, 21 USA teams had at least 80 percent collegiate participation on their rosters, and there were 15 teams that were comprised solely of current or former college athletes.[1] Numerous Team USA coaches also had ties to our nation’s colleges and universities of all sizes. The United States leads the world in many Olympic sports precisely because of our collegiate athletics system – which remains singularly unique the world over – and the opportunities it provides to elite athletes across sports. 

As representatives of collegiate coaches in Olympic sports, we are acutely aware of how critical it is that the unique needs of Olympic sports programs at the college level are addressed. The composition of Team USA in Paris is proof positive of the importance of our programs, and yet they are currently in danger of disappearing entirely in the midst of massive changes to the college sports landscape. While we are grateful for the increased attention on college sports in Washington in recent years, we believe that Congress must focus more attention on ensuring that Olympic sports are protected and continue to be sponsored by universities across the country.

In addition, we are gravely concerned about the possibility of recasting college athletes in Olympic sports as employees. Forcing these programs into a model with employees, salaries, and revenue targets would be an existential threat to the talent pipeline that makes up the majority of Team USA. The costs that could come with such a shift would undoubtedly lead to drastic cuts, and likely the elimination of most college Olympic sports programs altogether. 

Amid this change in college sports, we must not lose sight of the educational benefits of being a college athlete, Olympian or otherwise. While the majority of U.S. Olympic athletes develop through the collegiate athletics pipeline, most college athletes never compete professionally in their sport. This is especially true in the sports we coach, which do not have large, flourishing, professional leagues in our country the way football and basketball do. Should our programs become a cost-saving casualty of a student-athlete employment model, thousands of students, including students who might not otherwise have stepped foot on a university campus, will lose out on scholarships and other life-changing opportunities. College athletes enhance the core mission of higher education by exemplifying excellence in time management, teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Their disciplined approach to balancing rigorous athletic and academic demands fosters a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. By bringing diverse perspectives and goal-oriented mindsets, athletes inspire their peers on campus, contribute to a culture of perseverance, and enrich classroom discussions. Ultimately, college athletes embody the holistic development that universities strive to cultivate, helping prepare all students for success in their professional and personal lives.

Congress must recognize the need to protect collegiate Olympic sports and ensure that the erasure of our entire Olympic pipeline as we know it is not one of the unintended consequences of recent sweeping changes in college sports. Without action from Congress, the changes we’re seeing in college sports have the potential to reduce academic opportunity for athletes, destroy our Olympic pipeline, and diminish our nation’s excellence on the world stage. As we celebrate Team USA’s historic performance, we are also eager to work with lawmakers to put in place a national framework that addresses these concerns and ensures that the success we had in Paris continues for generations to come.