Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson Deliver on Promise to Olympic Medalists and Hand Record-Breaking Swimmer Bobby Finke $50K

Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, hosts of “Nightcap,” committed to supporting America’s Olympians by offering up to $50,000 to medalists who broke world records. Some wondered it the pair was serious. It turns out they were.

Money For Winners

The two former pro athletes fulfilled with a recent $50,000 bonus award to U.S. swimmer Bobby Finke.

On the Aug. 9 episode of “Nightcap,” the hosts honored Finke with a formal presentation of his $50,000 prize. Sharpe and Johnson expressed their pride in Finke’s accomplishments, including his gold medal and world record in the men’s 1,500-meter freestyle with a time of 14:30.67.

Sharpe said, “Bobby, on behalf of Shay Shay Media and Nightcap; we’re very proud of you here, I know my subscribers are proud of you, I know the U.S. is proud of you and to show you how proud we are of you…”

Adding a touch of humor, Johnson playfully challenged Finke to a race in Florida for the full amount, making for a memorable and lighthearted moment. “Wait a minute, wait, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Johnson said. “Bobby, now, in order to get that in its entirety, when you come back to Florida, we have to race — 800 [meter] or the 1500 [meter], whatever you want to do.”

Sharpe and Johnson initially announced their support after learning about the USOPC’s medal payout structure, which includes a $37,500 bonus for gold medalists and $22,500 for silver medalists. The hosts criticized these amounts and vowed to offer additional financial incentives. For 2024, Sharpe and Johnson set their reward for gold medalists at $25,000, with an extra $25,000 for those who set a world record.

Finke’s impressive achievements, including breaking the world record on Aug. 4 previously held by China’s Sun Yang since 2012, qualified him for the maximum bonus under Sharpe and Johnson’s initiative. The payout reflects the hosts’ commitment to enhancing financial rewards for all U.S. Olympians and supporting their extraordinary efforts.

Additional reporting by Ann Brown.