Beijing Olympics: Horton's success opens door to financial rewards

By Jenni Carlson

Published: August 22, 2008

Even 40,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Jonathan Horton gets noticed.

Returning to the United States on Thursday, the former Oklahoma gymnast discovered the attention that comes with a pair of Olympic medals. He led the Americans to the team bronze, then won silver on the high bar, and everyone on the flight from Beijing seemed to know it.

"Do you have your medals?” they would ask.

"They're in my bag,” he would say, smiling.

In case you're wondering, Olympic medals belong in carry-on, not checked baggage.

"These are pretty precious to my heart,” Horton said on the day he received a surprise welcome home at the Oklahoma City airport. "These aren't exactly replaceable.”

Those medals might be priceless, but the dividends could be real.

Horton's success has opened a window of opportunity afforded a limited number of Olympic athletes. He is a known commodity, and while his celebrity doesn't approach that of swimming sensation Michael Phelps or gymnastics gem Nastia Liukin, he already has been contacted about several possibilities beyond the gym.

Endorsement deals. Motivational speaking. Special appearances.

"I'm trying to stay pretty open-minded with just about anything,” he said. "Anything that I could do to share my story or get my image out there.”

Paul Hamm, the top American male gymnast after the last Olympics, worked with everyone from Visa and Chevron to The Discovery Channel and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The difference between Hamm then and Horton now is that Hamm was the all-around champion at the Olympics.

Horton finished ninth in the all-around.

The opportunities that come his way likely won't be as numerous or as lucrative as Hamm's, but Horton still sees possibilities.

"As an athlete and an Olympian, you want to just milk the situation for everything you can,” he said. "You don't do this for money, especially Olympic athletes because these aren't money sports. But if you're given the opportunity to make some cash out of it, you kind of have to go all out and do what you can.

"I'll be happy with anything people approach me with.”

He laughed.

"If anybody wants to sign me to a $50 million contract with Nike like Michael Phelps, I'm cool with that.”

For now, the only for-sure gig for Horton is the 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars. He will leave Oklahoma in less than a week for the two-month, 37-city tour.

It makes its only stop in the state at Tulsa's BOK Center on Oct. 9.

"It's gymnastics, but it's nothing like what we're doing,” Horton said. "This is really vacation. This will be one of the funnest times of my life.”

And when the tour concludes, Horton plans to return to the gym and start preparing for the 2012 Olympics.

Having completed his college eligibility at OU, Horton will be on the hook financially for the next four years of training. Making the most of his new-found fame is vital, especially with a wedding planned for next summer and a fiancée who plans to attend medical school.

"I could use some cash,” Horton joked. "Anything that I can make right now from this experience is going to just jumpstart me and get me on my feet for the real world.”

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