Becoming the first American man to win an Olympic medal in luge has opened up a world of possibilities for Chris Mazdzer. “There are some endorsement deals coming my way,” the silver medalist told Cheddar. “This has completely changed my life. It hasn’t changed who I am, but it changes what I can do.” Mazdzer points out that Olympic athletes can work long and hard without ever seeing much financial rewards. He, for example, had been training for 21 years, juggling practice with bartending and working weddings just to make ends meet. He says, “Some athletes work two, three jobs, just to keep doing what they love doing.” To raise awareness, Mazdzer donated $5,000 -- about a third of his winnings -- to athlete-mentoring organization Classroom Champions. He’s also raised over $35,000 more in matched contributions. He’s also planning for a future after sports. “I want to go into financial planning, but I also want to go into...life fulfillment planning,” he said. “If you can manage how you view money and if you can manage how you feel about what you’re trying to do with your life…then you have the chance to be completely at one with yourself.” For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/olympic-luger-chris-mazdzer-makes-history).

Share:
More In Sports
Tackling the Sports Media Landscape
Football fans will now be able to stream their favorite games on their phones, after Verizon signed a multi-year deal with the NFL. Paul Kelly, Chief Revenue Officer of Whistle Sports joins Cheddar to discuss the ever-changing landscape for sports media.
The Making of Nickelodeon's "Paradise Run"
Season 3 of Nickelodeon's competition series "Paradise Run" kicks off in 2018. Host of the show, Daniella Monet, shares what to expect in the new season of this series.
"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Box Office Forecasts Are In
The first box office forecasts for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" are in and it's looking like the sequel is the hit Hollywood has been waiting for this year. Bauer Xcel Media's Kate Spies and FHM's Nick Dimengo join Cheddar to discuss the early reviews and more top entertainment headlines.
College Football Gears up for the Championship
It's official: the final four teams have been selected for the college football championship. Nick Dimengo, Senior Editor at FHM Magazine, joins Cheddar to discuss his picks for the Clemson vs. Alabama and Oklahoma, vs. Georgia games.
Colin Kaepernick's Big Year
Jennifer Cunningham, Senior Editor at Bossip.com, and Todd Johnson, Managing Editor at The Grio, discuss Colin Kaepernick winning Sports Illustrated's Muhammad Ali Legacy Award. Kaepernick was honored for fighting social injustice against African Americans, and his pledge to continue to fight, despite not having an NFL contract.
Helping Veterans Find a Career After Serving
When veterans return home from service, many struggle to find jobs and careers. That's why Quick Lane launched the "Trading One Uniform For Another," program to help veterans fund an automotive education and career.
Why Audio Drives Cardio
Imagine running up a hill, wanting to give up, and then hearing a personal trainer in your ear urging you to keep going. Would you? Ethan Agarwal, CEO of Aaptiv, joins Cheddar to discuss how his app is making it possible for people to get motivated during a running workout.
Load More