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How college football became a financial engine for Olympic training

NPR | By Wailin Wong,

Adrian Ma

Published February 13, 2026 at 4:47 AM EST

College football has become the uniquely American engine that pays for the training of future US Olympians. The Indicator's Wailin Wong and Adrian Ma go back in time to the Cold War to explain why.

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US / World Morning Edition

Wailin Wong

Wailin Wong is a co-host of The Indicator from Planet Money.

Adrian Ma

Adrian Ma covers work, money and other "business-ish" for The Indicator from Planet Money, the daily economics podcast from NPR.

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How college football became a financial engine for Olympic training

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