Short-track speedskater Emily Scott was making a monthly stipend of $1,950. Then it was cut to $600. She applied for food stamps.

My former USA TODAY colleague Kelly Whiteside wrote about Scott’s plight, putting a human face on Olympic athletes’ struggles and dedication.

Then a funny thing happened. Scott was a crowdfunding site, through which she had raised $190 in two months. After Kelly’s story ran, that $190 became $15,000. (It’s now over $22,000.)

Wonderful, heartwarming story.

But the reporting doesn’t stop there. Take a quick look at the U.S. Olympic Committee’s finances and the tough choices it must make.