Well, she was unable to hire an agent so they couldn't tell how much money she would have gotten from any endorsement deals.
I agree that this isn't similar to football athletes where they are used to make millions -- this is a non-revenue athlete getting screwed by rules made to control revenue-generating athletes. It's similar to the Minnesota wrestler in the article I posted recently.
she could have hired an agent- she just wouldn't have been able to swim as an amateur- she made a choice that has consequences, but nobody forced her hand or strong armed her
