PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Like a lot of Olympic hopefuls, Korey Thieleke needed a way to pay help for his training. Things as basic as shoes add up for track athletes who don't have endorsement deals.
Thieleke, a promising sprinter who wanted a shot at the 400 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials, figured he'd try raising funds online, which was hailed as a self-starting solution after the 2014 Winter Olympics. If he was able to raise enough, he could focus solely on pursuing his dream.
He found that online fundraising can be just as challenging as more old-fashioned methods.