Australia’s Wealthiest Person Rewards Winning Athletes Nearly $1.3 Million

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart had promised cash bonuses for each medal won by Australia’s swim team.

Gina Rinehart attends day seven of the Australian National Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in Sydney, Australia, on April 9, 2015. Matt King/Getty Images

Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart has paid out more than a million dollars in bonuses to successful athletes at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, as well as the para swimming team, the Dolphins.

The nation’s medal winners have scooped a total of $1,272,500 in bonus payments, part of Rinehart’s bonus scheme to medal recipients.

It includes $20,000 per gold medal, $15,000 per silver medal and $10,000 per bronze medal, with additional bonuses of $30,000 for breaking world records.

As of July 30, Australian swimmers have won 37 gold medals, 21 silver, 16 team medals, and 35 bronze.

Of the 103 medals won by Australian athletes so far, 75 were achieved by the swim team.

In a statement, the Hancock Prospecting executive chairman said the swimmers had put in a “spectacular” effort.

“Few people, outside of the swimming families, truly understand the years of hard work, discipline and sacrifice required to compete at this international level,” Rinehart said.

“Yet again, our Aussie swimmers, punched well above our population size.

“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.”

Hancock said credit was also due to the parents, coaches and volunteers.

“I’m pleased to be able once again to provide financial rewards to our medal winners in the sports where I’m patron,” she said.

“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.”

Veteran Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser offered her congratulations.

“They’ve all done very, very well with the many years of support from Gina Rinehart,” she said.

“I wish my dear friend Gina had been around when I was swimming.”

Olympic gold medallist and former swimmer Cate Campbell said Rinehart had stepped in when Australian swimming was struggling.

“Her continued support helped save the team and rebuild the sport, and has played a critical role in the successes that our swimmers have achieved since,” she said.

The Glasgow Commonwealth Games are set to wrap up on Aug. 2 with the swimming events concluded.

Australia’s Big Haul

The swim team’s haul this year eclipsed the record 28 gold, 21 silver and 24 bronze won at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

It also topples the 25 gold, 21 silver and 19 bronze won in Birmingham in 2022.

The final night of the games saw Kyle Chalmers tie with fellow Aussie Ben Armbruster in a Commonwealth Games record of 22.73 seconds in the men’s 50 metre butterfly.

That was enough for him to claim his 10th Commonwealth Games gold, enough to move him past Ian Thorpe as Australia’s most successful male swimmer at the Games.

Chalmers walks away from Glasgow with 10 gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

“It’s amazing, we are two country kids who are now celebrating on top of the Commonwealth,” Chalmers said after his tie.