Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has offered the Australian Commonwealth Games swim team huge bonuses if they place in the top three in competition.
Mrs Rinehart, Australia’s richest person and a long-time supporter of competitive swimming, has offered thousands of dollars to swimmers who bring home medals.
The Aussie Dolphins team are set to compete in several events from Friday to Wednesday at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which began on Thursday.
Swimmers in individual events will receive a $20,000 reward from Mrs Rinehart if they bring home a gold medal, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.
Individual swimmers who manage to break a world record will be awarded $30,000 while teams who break global records will receive $7,500 per person.
Athletes who win multiple medals will receive the full amount for each prize.
The full payments will go into their bank account within two weeks of the Games ending.
‘There is something very uplifting about seeing an Australian athlete stand on the podium while our flag is raised. Such exciting times make Australians proud and deserve to be celebrated,’ Mrs Rinehart said.
Gina Rinehart (above) has offered thousands of dollars in bonuses to Australian swimmers who bring home medals from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Individual swimmers who win gold will receive $20,000 (pictured are the Australian Dolphins on Wednesday)
‘A swimmer winning three individual gold medals and breaking a world record would earn $90,000.’
Mrs Rinehart said she was proud to show her support for the Aussie team.
‘Our athletes are outstanding ambassadors for Australia. They are proud to compete for our country, and inspire millions of Australians, especially young people,’ she said.
‘These bonuses are a way of Australia saying thank-you and showing the appreciation our athletes deserve for bringing our country such a sense of pride and achievement.
‘Given the size of our population, we punch well above our weight on the world stage!’
Australia is by far the best performing country in the Commonwealth Games’ swimming competition.
The country has won 330 gold medals since the first Games in 1930.
Mrs Rinehart and her company, Hancock Prospecting, are largest private supporters of Australian Olympic sports.
Rinehart hoped the rewards on offer would encourage the Australian team (above) to do their best
That support includes direct funding, scholarships and career transition assistance.
‘The Commonwealth Games are an important stepping stone for our future Olympic champions, with 79 per cent of Australian Olympic medallists having competed at the Commonwealth Games before reaching an Olympic podium,’ Rinehart said.
‘Supporting our athletes in Glasgow is also an investment in Australia’s future Olympic success.
‘Our swimmers set a Commonwealth Games record by winning 28 gold medals on the Gold Coast in 2018 and came close to matching that mark with 25 golds in Birmingham in 2022.
‘I’m hoping that, with these bonuses on offer, we can set a new record this year in Glasgow.’
