'We saw $0 in support': Top Canadian skeleton racers claim they had to self-fund Olympic pursuit

Mirela Rahneva raced to Canada's best finish in skeleton at the Beijing Olympics — but it came with a steep price tag.

The 33-year-old slider from Ottawa flirted with a podium position last week at Yanqing National Sliding Center after recording the fastest time in the first of four runs. She went on to finish fifth.

Rahneva estimated her costs of competing this season at close to $30,000, and in a social media post Friday questioned where national team funding went, saying athletes paid out of pocket for everything from flights to accommodations to car rentals and even Canada's racing fees at World Cups.

"We saw $0 in support this important year," she posted on Twitter.

There is a big discrepancy somewhere then… <a href="https://twitter.com/AnneMerklinger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnneMerklinger</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/harrisoncbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@harrisoncbc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOlympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBCOlympics</a> The National Skeleton Team was not only sent to compete with No Coach this season, but also paid out of pocket for every flight, hotel and car rental. We saw $0 in support this important year. <a href="https://t.co/e3RaumyMll">pic.twitter.com/e3RaumyMll</a>

"A lot of the athletes have been really struggling, not only financially but mentally with the difficulties of competing," Rahneva said in a phone interview with The Canadian Press.

The Bulgarian-born athlete, who receives $14,000 a year from the federal government's Athlete Assistance (or carding) Program, tweeted a spreadsheet of costs incurred this season, totalling $26,585.

$26 585.00<br>This is how much a Skeleton Season costs in an Olympic Year. <br>I am currently carded for 8 months which is $14 120. <br>How are