Australia’s swimming team for the Commonwealth Games has been rewarded with more than $1.2 million in bonuses from billionaire benefactor Gina Rinehart.
The Dolphins collected a total of $1,272,500 after a remarkable campaign in Glasgow, where they won 75 medals, including a record 36 gold medals.
Rinehart congratulated the team, praising the dedication behind their success.
“Warmest congratulations to all our swimmers and athletes who competed in Glasgow and did Australia proud. A spectacular effort,” Rinehart said in a statement.
“Few people, outside of the swimming families, truly understand the years of hard work, discipline and sacrifice required to compete at this international level. Yet again, our Aussie swimmers, punched well above our population size.”
The bonuses were provided through Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, which rewards Australian athletes in the sports where she is a patron.
Individual gold medallists received $20,000 per event, silver medallists received $15,000 and bronze medallists received $10,000. Relay gold medallists also received $5000 each per event.
Individual world records would have attracted an additional $30,000 bonus, while relay world records would have earned $7500 per swimmer, although no records were broken during the Games.
The Dolphins’ record medal haul included a new Commonwealth Games benchmark of 36 gold medals, surpassing the previous record of 28 golds set by Australia at the Gold Coast Games in 2018.
Among the biggest earners was Lani Pallister, who won three individual gold medals and received $80,000 in bonuses.
Sam Short earned $65,000 after winning three freestyle gold medals and a relay gold, while Meg Harris collected $60,000 after securing six gold medals across individual and relay events.
The final bonus tally was boosted by a rare shared gold medal in the men’s 50m freestyle, where Kyle Chalmers and Ben Armbruster touched the wall together in a Games record time of 22.73 seconds.
Rinehart said the success reflected not only the athletes’ efforts but also the support of those behind them.
“This success also reflects the years of sacrifice from parents, coaches and volunteers behind the scenes who help the swimmers make these fantastic results possible,” she said.
“I’m pleased to be able once again to provide financial rewards to our medal winners in the sports where I’m Patron. It’s a way of saying thank you and showing appreciation for their dedication and achievements, the pride they make Australians feel, right across our country, and for being the inspiring young ambassadors that they truly are.”
The Dolphins’ performance continues Australia’s rise as a global swimming powerhouse, with Rinehart noting the team’s progress since the 2012 London Olympics, where Australia won just one swimming gold medal.
“Our swimmers have come so far since the London Olympics, where just one swimming gold medal was won, to now standing as the second-best swimming nation in the world,” she said.
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