Latest news with #WorldClassProgramme
Courier-Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
British canoeist forced to decide between Olympic dream and OnlyFans
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News. Canoeist Kurts Adams Rozentals has a decision to make — his OnlyFans or the Olympics. The British athlete was reportedly suspended last month by governing body Paddle UK, and he suspects it has something to do with his racy activity online. 'I have been posting videos (on Instagram) that are consciously made to be edgy in order to drive conversions to my 'spicy content page' (on OnlyFans), to fund this ultimate dream of going to the Olympics,' Rozentals said in an interview with BBC Sport. Kurts Adams Rozentals was suspended in April by governing body Paddle UK. Picture: kurtsadams/Instagram Paddle UK removed Rozentals from its World Class Programme pending an investigation. Picture: kurtsadam/Instagram Rozentals was removed from the World Class Programme, an initiative for potential Olympic athletes, by Paddle UK pending investigation, leaving his canoeing dreams up in the air. 'I kind of froze and I couldn't believe the words I was hearing because this is what I put my life into this is everything I do,' Rozentals told the outlet of the moment he heard the news. 'My personality at this point, my identity, is sport and I want to be a professional athlete chasing my Olympic dream.' BBC Sport reported Rozentals 'has more than 10,000 'likes' on the platform and 'has posted 39 videos and over 100 photos' earning more than '$A209,560 since creating his OnlyFans account in January.' 'This is the hardest decision that I've ever faced in my life,' Rozentals said. 'I came to the realisation about why I started doing this last winter after years of struggle, living on the edge, my mum working 90 hours-a-week, having bailiffs at the door.' 'I'm going to find a way where we don't have to struggle, where my mum can enjoy her life and I'm able to put everything into this sport because when you're thinking about how to pay the rent this month and you're standing at the start line, that's not very conducive (to performing well).' Rozentals posts videos and pictures on his Instagram account to drive viewers towards the content. Picture: kurtsadam/Instagram As a UK Paddle Programme athlete, Rozentals had been receiving $A33,529 - but said that's nowhere near enough to sustain himself.' 'I don't know how much you need but it's certainly not $A33,529,' said Rozentals. 'When you have to cover rent, travel, food… and most athletes who train full-time are all living in London.' 'They're very fortunate to have parent backing — I wasn't. I never had the ability to move to London because of financial struggles so I was always doing the travel from the East Midlands, where I live, to London, back-and-forth, back-and-forth.' This story originally appeared on the New York Post and is republished here with permission
NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
British Canoeist Claims He's Being Forced To Choose Between Olympics And OnlyFans
A British canoeist has alleged that he is being forced to choose between his Olympic dream and financial independence after being suspended from national-level competition, reportedly due to his content on the subscription-based platform OnlyFans. Kurts Adams Rozentals, a promising athlete in individual canoe slalom and a silver medallist at the 2023 World Under-23 Championships, was suspended in April by the UK's canoeing governing body, Paddle UK. The suspension came amid an ongoing investigation into unspecified social media content. While Paddle UK has not confirmed the nature of the allegations, Rozentals believes the action stems from his activity on OnlyFans, a website known for adult content, where he claims to have earned over 100,000 pounds since January this year. "I've posted content that's edgy on Instagram to drive traffic to my OnlyFans, and that income helps fund my Olympic dream," Rozentals told BBC Sport. The athlete said he was removed from Paddle UK's World Class Programme- a lottery-funded scheme supporting elite athletes- without being offered clarity or support. He is currently barred from contacting other programme members during the investigation. Rozentals, who receives an annual grant of 16,000 Pounds through the programme, argues the funding is far from sufficient to cover basic living and training costs, particularly for athletes based around London. "Most athletes are supported by their families. I wasn't. I travelled back and forth from the East Midlands, spending whatever I could to chase this dream," he said. He insists his decision to join OnlyFans was driven by years of financial hardship, including his family struggling with debts and his mother working 90-hour weeks. "When you're at the start line thinking about how to pay rent, you're not performing at your best." In a statement, Paddle UK said the action taken was not disciplinary but a "neutral" and "interim" measure to safeguard all parties while the matter is reviewed by Sport Integrity, an independent investigation body. The governing body's disciplinary policy lists "offensive social media use" and "immoral behaviour" as examples of misconduct that could lead to de-selection. Rozentals says he won't shut down his OnlyFans account unless something changes. "It's the hardest decision of my life-giving up either financial stability or the sport I've put my whole identity into." The case highlights the ongoing debate over athlete funding, personal branding, and how governing bodies respond to monetisation strategies that fall outside traditional norms. Notably, Olympic gold medallist diver Jack Laugher also created an OnlyFans account in 2024 to supplement his income, sparking discussions about financial pressures faced even by elite athletes. UK Sport, the funding body behind the athlete grant programme, declined to comment on the specific case but said in a statement: "Our Athlete Performance Award is designed to support basic living and sporting costs. We announced an increase in these allowances earlier this year." As Rozentals awaits the outcome of the investigation, his case has stirred a broader conversation around athlete autonomy, digital monetisation, and whether current support systems are keeping pace with the realities of modern sports careers.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
From canoes to nudes: Team GB star Kurt Adams claims Olympic ban over ‘edgy' OnlyFans hustle that saved him from homelessness
British canoeist says OnlyFans income saved him from homelessness, but cost him his Olympic dream British canoeist Kurt Adams Rozentals, 22, is in controversy after being suspended from Paddle UK's World Class Programme, jeopardizing his aspirations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The suspension follows his creation of an OnlyFans account, a subscription-based platform often associated with adult content, which he started in January to supplement his limited athlete funding. Rozentals, who earned a silver medal in the C1 event at the 2023 World Under-23 Championships, has been part of Paddle UK's elite training program, receiving an annual grant of £16,000. He argues that this amount is insufficient to cover the costs of training, travel, and living expenses, especially given the high cost of living in London. "Trying to live on the salary Paddle UK pays their athletes is near impossible," he stated on Instagram. "I was sick of worrying how to pay rent, I was sick of being on the verge of homelessness." To alleviate his financial burdens, Rozentals turned to OnlyFans, where he has reportedly earned over £100,000 since January. He has posted 39 videos and more than 100 photos on the platform, which has garnered over 10,000 likes. His content, described as "edgy," includes nude images sent directly to subscribers. Rozentals received a call from a Paddle UK representative in April informing him of his suspension from the second and final part of the GB team selections. He was also banned from communicating with his coach, staff, and teammates. Paddle UK confirmed that an athlete is under interim action pending the outcome of an investigation, stating, "Paddle UK can confirm that in line with our Athlete Disciplinary Policy, an athlete on the canoe slalom programme is under interim action, pending the outcome of an investigation." The investigation has been referred to the independent service Sport Integrity. The governing body's Athlete Disciplinary Policy lists "offensive use of social media" and "indecent, offensive or immoral behaviour" as examples of gross misconduct that could lead to de-selection. However, Paddle UK emphasized that the suspension is a "neutral act designed to protect all parties" and not a disciplinary action. Rozentals expressed his frustration and disappointment, stating, "This is the hardest decision that I've ever faced in my life." He added, "To ban me from racing? To ban me from speaking to my teammates like I'm some criminal? That's f**king insane." He highlighted the sacrifices his family has made, noting that his mother works 90 hours a week and that they have faced financial hardships, including the threat of remains suspended and unable to train or compete. He faces a difficult decision: continue his OnlyFans venture to maintain financial stability or cease his activities on the platform in hopes of reinstatement. "Unless something changes in the way athletes are paid, I don't see a way of working with Paddle UK," he remarked.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Olympic hopeful Kurts Adams Rozentals says his OnlyFans account left him sidelined
British canoeist Kurts Adams Rozentals says Paddle UK has sidelined him from the World Class Programme due to his work on OnlyFans, forcing him to choose between Olympic ambition and financial survival. Rozentals, 22, won a place on UK Sport's lottery‑funded scheme in 2022 and claimed a C1 silver at the World Under‑23 Championships in 2023, but was suspended in April 'pending investigation' under Paddle UK's Athlete Disciplinary Policy. Advertisement While the governing body did not publicly detail the allegations at the time, Rozentals posted on his Instagram that he believes they relate to the explicit videos he has been posting on his subscription-based OnlyFans channel since January. Rozentals has now publicly addressed the controversy, telling BBC Sport, 'I've been posting videos that are consciously made to be edgy in order to drive conversions to my 'spicy content page' to fund this ultimate dream of going to the Olympics.' He said the £16,000 ($21,552) annual grant he received from Paddle UK 'is certainly not' enough to cover rent, travel, and living costs for a full‑time athlete based in London. Advertisement Rozentals estimates he has earned more than £100,000 ($134,704) in under six months on OnlyFans, where he posts uncensored footage and self‑promotional clips on Instagram to steer followers toward the platform. 'I did whatever it took to never be in that position,' he told Sky News. 'Was it unconventional? Sure. But to ban me from racing… that's f**king insane.' According to Sky News, Paddle UK said the interim action was taken 'to safeguard other athletes, staff and volunteers due to the nature of the allegation' and is a neutral measure, not a disciplinary sanction. The policy cites 'offensive use of social media' and 'indecent, offensive or immoral behaviour' as potential grounds for action. The investigation has been passed to Sport Integrity, an independent service. Advertisement Rozentals insists he should not have to choose between making ends meet and pursuing his sporting career. 'When you're thinking about how to pay the rent at the start line, that's not very conducive to performing well,' he told BBC Sport. 'This is the hardest decision that I've ever faced in my life.' He added that without a change to the way athletes are funded, he sees no future collaborating with Paddle UK. 'Unless something changes in the way athletes are paid, I don't see a way of working with Paddle UK,' he said, as he awaits the outcome of the investigation.
STV News
3 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Olympic canoe hopeful suspended after creating OnlyFans account to cover costs
Rozentals told ITV News that getting to the Olympics can be financially 'impossible' for those from underprivileged backgrounds A British canoeist chasing his Olympic dreams has been suspended by the sport's governing body in the UK after setting up an OnlyFans account. Kurts Adams Rozentals, 22, earned a place on the canoe World Class Programme in 2022, a UK Sport funded initiative developing talented athletes with Olympic ambitions. But after he started his OnlyFans account in January, to cover the costs of his career, Paddle UK called him in April to say he had been suspended from the programme and was under investigation. 'It was a big shock,' he said. 'My identity at this point is sport, every day I get up and my goal is to get better as an athlete. OnlyFans was just a way to support that.' / Credit: Instagram / @kurtsadams He is currently unable to train at Paddle UK facilities, or have contact with any staff, students or coaches on the programme. The body has not clarified the nature of the allegations, but Rozentals said those around him began passing comment when he started posted suggestive content on his Instagram in January. His Instagram links to an account on OnlyFans, a subscription-based platform known to host explicit content. As a World Class Programme athlete, Rozentals receives a grant of £16,000 a year – a sum he told ITV News barely covers the costs incurred of being a professional athlete. Rozentals moved from Latvia to the UK at eight years old. / Credit: Instagram / @kurtsadams In 2023, he won his first individual medal with C1 silver World Under-23 Championships. He was raised by a single mother and moved to the UK from Latvia aged just eight years old. Ten years of canoeing later, he said the financial pressures of pursuing a career as an athlete left him with few other options. 'I have tried other ways. I've done everything from freelance video editing, to Amazon warehouses. But all of those things take a toll on your training,' he said. Calling for more awareness about the pressures faced by athletes who are not from privileged backgrounds, he said his career has seen him surrounded by wealthier peers. Kurts (left) has been canoeing for ten years. / Credit: Instagram / @kurtsadams 'I don't want this to be about me, and about OnlyFans. Athletes aren't getting the funding they deserve,' he said. 'Unless they are backed by parents, or unless you come from a more privileged background with more money, chasing the dream of going to the Olympics is impossible.' Paddle UK confirmed a canoe slalom athlete was under 'interim action', pending the outcome of an investigation. A statement said: 'The investigation has been referred to independent investigation service Sport Integrity. 'The interim action is a neutral act designed to protect all parties and is not a disciplinary action. It was taken to ensure the integrity of the investigation and to safeguard other athletes, staff, and volunteers due to the nature of the allegation. 'Paddle UK is committed to ensuring a safe and open environment for all, and interim action under the Athlete Disciplinary Policy is only taken where necessary and proportionate.' The body didn't confirm the nature of the allegations, and said it was unable to comment further until the investigation concludes. Rozentals said: 'I don't want to say it's like losing a loved one, but that is my identity. 'It's sad to say, but I don't have any purpose apart from that.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
