source Never give up has been a popular mantra used in various struggles of life to depict the difficulty of succeeding at any endeavor. For professional sporting events, the nature of competition sometimes can relegate other talented individuals to the backseat, never really fulfilling their potential or even profiting from their chosen career choice.

There is no mincing words that many Athletes have retired with financial constraints. Some have had to take up other jobs during the course of their careers simply because their talent was not enough to pay the bills. This is particularly true for Women's events and sports with less mainstream appeal. Others have missed the luxury attached to certain athletes who can afford 'never to work again if they please'.

Some Athletes take their talents as a sort of calling, and do not necessarily depend on the income earned for survival. Others are more of journeymen in this regard, taking every opportunity at their disposal to earn a pay cheque. For instance in long distance track and field there are those who serve as pacemakers with their only function being to lead other athletes on a target pace in other to run fast times. They are paid for those specific jobs and are not expected to achieve more than that.

Yet there have been times in history where Athletes have broken the normal boundaries of expectations and have been rewarded with recognition and just as importantly, a nice pay cheque. These athletes merely took advantage of the opportunities presented in front of them taken at the appropriate time. They cross across a variety of sports and although the opportunities were dynamic in nature, they each succeeded in seizing them.

Sometimes it is providence that presents a chance to change an athletes fortunes such as the 2008 IAAF diamond league Jackpot won by Kenyan 800m runner Pamela Jelimo. While obviously gifted and dominant in her field, the IAAF golden league jackpot was an award shared between the winners of the six Golden league events totaling $1,000,000. As the only winner for that year, Jelimo clamed the complete prize and transformed herself into an instant millionaire overnight, a feat not accomplished by even more popular athlete.

Philippines first ever olympic Gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz lifted her way into fortune by simply winning the right competition at the right time.

Then there is the case of the not so talented athletes who have had a breakthrough. Heavyweight Boxer Alex Leapai had not earned more than $10,000 in any previous bout before fighting then World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. He took his opportunity when it presented itself by defeating Klitschko's then mandatory challenger and putting himself in line. He earned $1.5 million for his losing effort which represented a total transformation of his lifestyle and status in the boxing World and his native Samoa.

Conclusion

Sports is a difficult venture for any competitor, and there are no guarantees of fame and fortune even when successful. Still, it is more than possible to simply work your way into financial fortune as an athlete regardless of the sport. All it takes is a little luck by the side.