From brewing beer to walking the runway and changing oil: Meet the American Olympians who work day jobs to fund their gold medal dreams

By Ashley Collman For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:32 EST, 12 August 2016 | Updated: 00:59 EST, 13 August 2016

Athletes like Michael Phelps make millions chasing gold at the Olympics, through sponsorship and cash prizes for medals.

But most of the athletes representing Team USA in Rio have to hold down regular jobs like the rest of us to fund their Olympic dream.

Of course many athletes take up jobs coaching youngsters in their respective sports, but just as many lead careers in completely unexpected fields - from accounting to baking cookies. 

Take a look below at some of the surprising ways America's Olympians make a living when they're not training for competition. 

 

THE FASHION DESIGNER  

Ibtihaj Muhammad, Fencing 

Job: Clothing designer for Louella, her personal label 

Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad designs clothing for her own line called Louella. She's pictured above competing at the Olympics on August 8 

Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad designs clothing for her own line called Louella. She's pictured on the left competing at the Olympics on August 8. On the right, one of her designs 

THE BREWER 

Chris Wyles, Rugby Sevens 

Job Co-founder of Wildman Craft Lagers, with South African rugby player Alistair Hargreaves. 

U.S. Men's Rugby Sevens player Chris Wyles started a craft beer company. He's pictured above playing Brazil on August 9

U.S. Men's Rugby Sevens player Chris Wyles started a craft beer company. He's pictured above playing Brazil on August 9

Wyles (second left) and South African rugby player Alistair Hargreaves (far left) are the co-founders of Wildman Craft Lagers 

THE JUICE MASTER 

Seth Weil, Rowing 

Job: Works part-time at his host family's juice bar, Arlee's Raw Blends, in Princeton, New Jersey   

Seth Weill works part-time at Arlee's Raw Blends juice shop in Princeton, New Jersey. He's pictured above competing at the Olympics in Rio on Thursday

Seth Weill works part-time at Arlee's Raw Blends juice shop in Princeton, New Jersey. He's pictured above competing at the Olympics in Rio on Thursday

Above, a look inside the juice shop where Weill works part time 

Above, a look inside the juice shop where Weill works part time 

THE BEAUTY EXPERT 

Michelle Carter, Shot put

Job: Freelance make-up artist and consultant for beauty sales site BeautiControl 

Shot-putter Michelle Carter's flawless make-up on Friday is perhaps not a surprise considering she works as a freelance make-up artist 

Shot-putter Michelle Carter's flawless make-up on Friday is perhaps not a surprise considering she works as a freelance make-up artist 

THE SOLDIER/BAKER

John Nunn, Race walker 

Job: This Army staff-sergeant helps run his daughter's cookie business, Ella's Cookies.   

Race-walker John Nunn, a staff sergeant in the Army, and his daughter Ella run their own cookie business, Ella's Cookies

Race-walker John Nunn, a staff sergeant in the Army, and his daughter Ella run their own cookie business, Ella's Cookies. Nunn pictured on the left in his Army uniform and on the right competing in a 20K race in June

The father and daughter are pictured above whipping up a batch of their cookies back in May

The father and daughter are pictured above whipping up a batch of their cookies back in May

THE SPORTING GOODS SALESMEN 

Jeremy Taiwo, decathalon and  Mariya Koroleva, synchronized swimming 

Job: Both hold down part-time jobs at Dick's Sporting Goods, which works with the U.S. Olympic Committee to hire Olympians and Olympic hopefuls  

Jeremy Taiwo (right, at the Olympic trials in July) and Mariya Koroleva (left, in March 2016) both work at Dick's Sporting Goods, a company that partners with the USOC to hire Olympians

THE MODELS

Miles Chamley-Watson, fencing and Kerron Clement, hurdles  

Job:  After achieving fame at the last Olympics, Chamley-Watson started a side career in modeling and has appeared both on the runway and in editorial campaigns. Track and Field star Clement is also a model as well as a photographer, and even got a role in Beyonce's 'Run The World (Girls)' music video.

Olympic fencer Miles Chamley-Watson (left, in Rio) and hurdler Kerron Clement (right, at the Olympic trials in July) both work as models

Clement's (right) good looks landed him a role in the music video for Beyonce's (center) 'Run The World (Girls)' 

Clement's (right) good looks landed him a role in the music video for Beyonce's (center) 'Run The World (Girls)' 

Miles Chamley-Watson walks the runway at the Rochambeau fashion show in New York City on July 13, 2016

Miles Chamley-Watson walks the runway at the Rochambeau fashion show in New York City on July 13, 2016

THE NFL STAR 

Nate Ebner, Rugby Sevens 

Job: Safety for the New England Patriots 

Nate Ebner is a safety for the New England Patriots. Coach Bill Belichick allowed him time off this summer to compete in the Olympics for the U.S. Men's Rugby Sevens team

THE GREASE MONKEY  

Nico Hernandez, Boxing 

Job: Hernandez works with his father as a lube tech at a Wichita-area trucking company 

Nico Hernandez, left, breaks noses in the boxing ring, but outside the sport he fixes cars as a lube technician for a Wichita-area trucking company 

Nico Hernandez, left, breaks noses in the boxing ring, but outside the sport he fixes cars as a lube technician for a Wichita-area trucking company 

THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER 

Emil Milev, Shooting 

Job: P.E. teacher at Booker T. Washington elementary school in Tampa, Florida  

American shooter Emil Milev works as a P.E. teacher in Tampa, Florida. Pictured above in Rio on August 4

American shooter Emil Milev works as a P.E. teacher in Tampa, Florida. Pictured above in Rio on August 4

THE 'BIG FOUR' CONSULTANT 

Gerek Meinhardt, Fencing 

Job: Advisor consultant for risk analytics at Deloitte, one of the 'Big Four' professional services companies.   

Gerek Meinhardt, right, works for one of the 'Big Four' professional services companies, Deloitte. Pictured above competing in Rio on August 7

Gerek Meinhardt, right, works for one of the 'Big Four' professional services companies, Deloitte. Pictured above competing in Rio on August 7

THE PROFESSIONAL SURFER AND T-SHIRT ENTREPRENEUR  

Kaleigh Gilchrist, Water Polo 

Job: The USC-alum runs her own T-shirt company specializing in USC gear called 'I Miss South Central'. She's also a competitive surfer. 

Water polo player Kaleigh Gilchrist (left) runs a t-shirt company specializing in merchandise for her alma mater, the University of Southern California (t-shirt example, right). She's also a professional surfer 

Gilchrist is pictured above competing against China on August 11 in Rio 

Gilchrist is pictured above competing against China on August 11 in Rio 

THE MATH PROFESSOR  

Jared Ward, Marathon 

Job: Adjunct instructor in statistics at Brigham Young University

Brigham Young University alumnus Jared Ward now teaches statistics at the college. He's pictured above competing at the Marathon Olympic Trials in February 

Brigham Young University alumnus Jared Ward now teaches statistics at the college. He's pictured above competing at the Marathon Olympic Trials in February 

THE YOGI 

Mara Abbott, Cycling

Job: Vinyasa yoga instructor 

When she's not training on her bike, cyclist Mara Abbott is practicing her sun pose as a yoga instructor. Pictured above competing in Rio on August 7

When she's not training on her bike, cyclist Mara Abbott is practicing her sun pose as a yoga instructor. Pictured above competing in Rio on August 7

THE DATA SCIENTIST 

Andrew Campbell Jr., Rowing 

Job: Data Scientist at Quantopian, a Boston-based start-up that  aims to create a crowd-sourced hedge fund. 

Rower Andrew Campbell Jr works for a Boston start-up that focuses on financial algorithms. Pictured in front competing in Rio on August 12

Rower Andrew Campbell Jr works for a Boston start-up that focuses on financial algorithms. Pictured in front competing in Rio on August 12

THE RESTAURATEUR 

Enkelejda Shehaj, Shooting

Job: Owner of Olympia Dining, a restaurant in Naples, Florida 

Olympic shooter Enkelejda Shehaj owns a restaurant in Naples, Florida called Olympia Dining. Pictured above competing in Rio on August 9 

Olympic shooter Enkelejda Shehaj owns a restaurant in Naples, Florida called Olympia Dining. Pictured above competing in Rio on August 9 

THE REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE  

Hans Struzyna, Rowing 

Job: The vice president of business development for Innovation Properties Group, Inc., a commercial real estate company based in San Francisco.  

 Hans Struzyna (second left on August 8) is the vice president of business development for a San Francisco-based commercial real estate company 

 Hans Struzyna (second left on August 8) is the vice president of business development for a San Francisco-based commercial real estate company 

THE ACCOUNTANT 

Gwen Jorgensen, Triathalon  

Job: Accountant at Ernst & Young 

Triathalete Gwen Jorgensen works as an accountant at Ernst & Young. She's pictured above finishing a race in Leeds, England on June 12

Triathalete Gwen Jorgensen works as an accountant at Ernst & Young. She's pictured above finishing a race in Leeds, England on June 12

THE HOME SELLER 

Alex Naddour, Gymnastics

Job: Licensed realtor in Arizona  

Gymnast Alex Naddour works in real estate when he's not training in gymnastics. He's pictured above preparing to compete on the pommel horse on August 6

Gymnast Alex Naddour works in real estate when he's not training in gymnastics. He's pictured above preparing to compete on the pommel horse on August 6

THE DO-GOODER

Adeline Gray, Weight-lifting 

Job: Gray works for the U.S. Olympic Committee, helping athletes find volunteer activities in their communities  

U.S. weightlifter Adeline Gray works for the U.S. Olympic Committee, helping Olympians and Olympic hopefuls find volunteer work. She's pictured above visiting the USA House in Rio on August 5

U.S. weightlifter Adeline Gray works for the U.S. Olympic Committee, helping Olympians and Olympic hopefuls find volunteer work. She's pictured above visiting the USA House in Rio on August 5

 

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