When aspiring Olympic athletes were told that there was no money for them to be sponsored, they went to a Corporate sponsor as more and more athletes are choosing to do, Olympic bound or not.
Don't be afraid to reach out to larger corporations to sponsor your athletics. Start with companies you frequent the most you'll be surprises at how often companies like Hooters, Kroger and other large companies actually have sponsorship budgets and are more than willing to sponsor athletes.
The U.S. government does not fund the training for its Olympic athletes or other athletes unlike many countries around the world, so finding a sponsor or sponsors is a priority. Fortunately, if you go about it the right way, the funding and financial support is there for you.
A huge part of getting sponsorship is learning how to present yourself when you're seeking sponsorship. Put together a professional package. If you show up with a typewritten letter and a photo, chances are it's going to get tossed in the trash if you sent a letter and shown the door if you attempted to deliver this message in person. A sponsor wants to help you but they also want something for their money, show them what they get and give them sponsorship levels, it's a great way to allow smaller companies to sponsor your athletics and let's face it, it looks good to have a number of sponsors.
Hard economic times don't mean that getting a sponsor for your athletics has to be hard. Put together a professional package, make a list of companies you want to contact and don't give up. You don't give up in sports, don't give up in your quest for sponsorship. Sponsorship can be yours.