Liza Corso, a Team USA runner, has wrapped up her Paralympic journey in Paris with her second medal and is optimistic about future successes. Corso clinched a bronze in the women’s 1,500 meters T13 category, which is for athletes with visual impairments, on Saturday. This follows her silver medal performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. She plans to continue competing in cross country and track at Lipscomb University in Nashville, where she remains determined to achieve Paralympic gold.
The area for Paralympic athletes has changed thanks to the NCAA’s 2021 decision to permit athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This shift, prompted by state legislation and increasing demand, has created new financial opportunities for collegiate athletes. Corso has embraced this new environment, securing endorsements from major brands like Toyota and Samsung, in addition to smaller deals.
Initially, when the NIL regulations were introduced, Corso found the market underdeveloped, which limited her endorsement opportunities despite her achievements. However, as the NIL market evolved, she began to connect with brands independently, without relying on an agent or Team USA’s direct support. The NIL market, which has expanded from $917 million in its inaugural year to a projected $1.67 billion this year, has allowed her to receive financial backing during college.
Unlike previous athletes who had to choose between sports and maximizing endorsement earnings, Corso benefits from being able to balance both. As she enters her senior year at Lipscomb, she aims to set new personal records and earn national accolades.
Corso expresses a desire for continued growth in the NIL sector, hoping for increased support from brands and greater equality between Olympians and Paralympians. “I want to see more opportunities and a fairer distribution of support,” she noted, recognizing the progress but acknowledging the need for further advancement.