Robbie Manson, an accomplished rower from New Zealand, has found a lucrative side hustle that significantly supports his athletic career. Manson has turned to OnlyFans, a subscription-based platform, where he shares “tasteful nudes” with his subscribers. This endeavor, he reveals, provides him with more than double the income he would typically earn as an athlete.
“I get more than double what I would be on otherwise as an athlete – read into that what you will, but I am making more from OnlyFans than I am from rowing at this stage,” Manson shared. Despite the financial demands of being an Olympic athlete, Manson has received no significant personal sponsorships. However, he expresses gratitude for the support from Rowing New Zealand, which understands the financial challenges faced by athletes.
Manson highlights the support he has received from Rowing New Zealand, emphasizing that they are aware of the substantial financial impact OnlyFans has had on his career. “The bosses at Rowing New Zealand understand that this is making a huge financial impact and helping me get to where I want to go,” he said.
Manson is not alone in this venture. Other athletes, including retired diver Matthew Mitcham and synchronized diver Noah Williams, have also joined OnlyFans to supplement their income. Mitcham, known for his historic gold medal win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, turned to OnlyFans as a way to utilize his physical efforts for financial gain post-retirement.
For Manson, his identity as an out gay athlete has played a role in his success on the platform. “The fact that I’m gay, I have the gay following and the audience already, and I’m slightly leaning into that,” he said. While he keeps the specific content on his OnlyFans page discreet, he assures his subscribers of its artistic and tasteful nature.
Manson is one of the 175 LGBTQ+ athletes competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. His journey highlights the diverse paths athletes take to support their dreams and the evolving landscape of financial opportunities for LGBTQ+ sportspeople.
