10 Olympic athletes with surprising day jobs: From ice cream shop owner to birthday party clown
![10 Olympic athletes with surprising day jobs: From ice cream shop owner to birthday party clown](https://dxltb3n5j8l6j.cloudfront.net/708944/uploads/69ff0210-523c-11ef-aa62-83d3e9289680_1200_630.jpeg)
Here’s what these 10 Olympians do as their day jobs: From math professor to epidemiologist
![(Dustin Satloff/Getty Images, Lintao Zhang/Getty Images, Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/bdd5b0d4-3195-4d3c-a3b4-e47bcdace041.jpg)
Many athletes who compete in the Olympics don't make a living solely from their sport. Only a few lucky ones end up making huge money from their respective sports as full-time athletes. Others take up jobs while keeping a balance between their work and sport. Many athletes who have gone on to win medals in the biggest sporting event, have had day jobs. Let us take a look at 10 US Olympic athletes with surprising day jobs.
1. Angel McCoughtry: Ice cream shop owner
![LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Angel McCoughtry #35 of the Atlanta Dream handles the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks during a WNBA basketball game at Staples Center on September 8, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/e3f16286-7d15-4309-83f2-5810b29db5c1.jpg)
US basketball player Angel McCoughtry, who is a two-time gold medalist, opened an ice cream shop, McCoughtry's Ice Cream, in Atlanta. She plans to open more outlets. Angel signed with the Las Vegas Aces in 2020 and is a WNBA player, having competed in both the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
2. Nic Fink: Engineer
![NANTERRE, FRANCE - JULY 28: Nic Fink of Team United States gestures as he walks out ahead of the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 28, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/439b6f9a-b041-44ca-8590-bac8e5c57e14.jpg)
Swimmer Nic Fink earned his master's degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Georgia Tech after competing in his first Olympics in Tokyo. He graduated in December 2022 and began working at Quanta Utility Engineering.
3. Jared Ward: Math professor
![RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 21: Jared Ward of the United States competes during the Men's Marathon on Day 16 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Sambodromo on August 21, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/fdbce976-95df-4853-ac5f-282fa3e95481.jpg)
US marathon runner Jared Ward is also a math professor at Brigham Young University. He was one of the runners in the 2016 Rio Olympics as he finished third in the marathon at the 2016 US Olympic Trials. He secured the sixth spot at the 2016 Olympics.
4. Gabrielle Thomas: Epidemiologist
![LONDON, ENGLAND: JULY 20: Gabrielle Thomas of the United States reacts after winning the 200m for women competition during the Wanda Diamond League, London Athletics Meet at the London Stadium on July 20th, 2024, in London, England. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/3c3731cf-5ed5-43f3-811f-5877e854a90e.jpg)
Sprinter Gabrielle (Gabby) Thomas is a Harvard graduate, who also has a master's in public health and epidemiology from the University of Texas. She also volunteers at a clinic for uninsured patients in Austin. She made her way to the 2024 Olympics as the gold medal favorite in the 200 meters.
5. Christopher Fogt: Army officer
![PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 09: Chris Fogt of The United States speaks during a United States Bobsleigh press conference ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at on February 9, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/25fd3b4c-e63b-4a6f-86a4-9225ae69a5a5.jpg)
Bobsledder Christopher Fogt is an army officer who won a bronze medal in the four-man bobsledding event during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He also took part in the two-man Bobsled event in Sochi, finishing at 12th place.
6. Canyon Barry: Systems engineer
![PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 01: Canyon Barry #6 of Team United States looks on after his team's loss during a Men's 3x3 basketball pool round game between United States and Latvia on day six of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Esplanade Des Invalides on August 01, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/19dc28f2-14d8-4db8-b375-fb2307d9c6b5.jpg)
US men's 3x3 basketball team member Canyon Barry is a systems engineer at L3 Harris Technologies, a defense and space contractor, and holds degrees in nuclear engineering and physics.
7. Polina Edmunds: Social media marketer
![ST PAUL, MN - JANUARY 23: Polina Edmunds competes in the Ladies' Free Skate at the 2016 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championship on January 23, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/813386b0-39fb-45c5-bfd7-b163e86698c5.jpg)
Polina Edmunds, an Olympic figure skater from the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, is currently a podcast host and social media marketer. She decided to give up figure skating after earning her degree in communications from Santa Clara University in June 2020.
8. Morelle McCane: Birthday party clown
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 15: Boxer Morelle McCane poses for a portrait during the 2024 Team USA Media Summit at Marriott Marquis Hotel on April 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/256bf66e-ea39-446d-81eb-011935ef551c.jpg)
Boxer Morelle McCane, who has been working hard since she was 17 years old, has supported her goals of being an Olympian by working as a mailroom clerk, daycare supervisor, and birthday party clown. In 2024, she became the first Cleveland-born female fighter to qualify for the Games.
9. Ellen Geddes: Farm owner
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 17: Wheelchair Fencing athlete Ellen Geddes speaks to the media during the Team USA Media Summit at Marriott Marquis Hotel on April 17, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images for the USOPC)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/0a7d88ac-2eed-4cf7-a3e7-d813d43b86a4.jpg)
Ellen Geddes was an ardent horseback rider before being rendered disabled in a vehicle accident in 2012 at the age of 23. She participated in her maiden Wheelchair World Championship in 2013 after attempting wheelchair fencing for the first time later in 2012. She currently owns two horse farms, Maplewood Farm and Bridlewood Farm, in Aiken and is also a breeding director at Magnolia Sport Horses.
10. Jesse Grupper: Mechanical engineer
![SANTIAGO, CHILE - OCTOBER 22: Jesse Grupper of United States competes in Men's Bolulder & Lead at Muros de Escalada Parque Cerrillos on Day 3 of Santiago 2023 Pan Am games during on October 23, 2023 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Claudio Santana/Getty Images)](http://d2r3ijz46v2k0u.cloudfront.net/03396a38-77cb-489a-97ed-a6015897ebb8.jpg)
Olympic rock climber Jesse Grupper is also a mechanical engineer and an engineering research fellow at Harvard, specializing in rehabilitation and soft robotic educational technology. He also worked remotely part-time for the Harvard Biodesign Lab. He won gold in men's combined at the 2023 Pan American Games to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.