But society in general does not really support professional athletes in any directed “conservatory” sense, beyond the weird obsession with college sports in the USA.

Corporate sponsorship pays the bigger amounts: that is a side job with its own commitments. Prize money: by definition not available to most.

Directed pay is a tiny fraction of it (stipend level), even at the highest levels.

Athletes have other jobs.

Again: a bad model for mathematicians. None of them are going to be signing merch deals. Most aren’t winning prizes. I am afraid that mathematicians are just going to have to keep doing all the other jobs they already do.

> But society in general does not really support professional athletes in any directed “conservatory” sense, beyond the weird obsession with college sports in the USA.

At least some countries have programs where (candidate) Olympians get professional support and a stipend.

See for example https://www.uksport.gov.uk/our-work/investing-in-sport/how-u..., https://www.dosb.de/en/themen/athletes/services-for-athletes