It wasn't all bad news for Stokke, though - she was already earning more than the majority of her pole vaulting competitors. Her media profile won her a series of endorsement deals with big-name sporting brands. So long as Stokke approved of the brand, she was happy to endorse their products for them.
This gave her enough money to go full time with the sport, and advertising sporting brands allowed her to be presented as a legitimate athlete instead of just a pretty face.