Article by Retta Race, courtesy of Swim Swam
06.08.2025
The 2025 World Championships may have concluded, but the money is still rolling in for some of Australia’s top pool swimming performers.
As the nation finished second in the overall swimming medal table, having amassed 20 pieces of hardware, including 8 golds, longstanding aquatics benefactor Gina Rinehart has contributed additional monetary awards to those who truly rose to the occasion in Singapore.
As a patron, Rinehart has committed the following to swimming and synchronized (artistic) swimming athletes:
- Medal Type Individual Event Relay Event
- Gold $20,000 $5,000pp
- Silver $15,000 $3,750pp
- Bronze $10,000 $2,500pp
- World Record $30,000 $7,500pp
Of note, athletes who received multiple medals will be rewarded for each and every medal earned. Payments will be made directly into athletes’ accounts within two weeks, pending confirmation of updated banking details.
For a swimmer such as Olympic multi-champion Kaylee McKeown, her reward includes:
- 100m backstroke gold – $20,000
- 200m backstroke gold – $20,000
- Women’s 4x100m medley relay silver – $3,750
While teammate Mollie O’Callaghan’s haul includes:
- 100m freestyle silver – $15,000
- 200m freestyle gold – $20,000
- Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay gold – $5,000
- Women’s 4x200m freestyle relay gold – $5,000
- Women’s 4x100m medley relay silver – $37,50
Per Swimming Australia’s release, Rinehart and Hancock Prospecting have supported swimming for more than 30 years, initially in West Australia, then in Queensland too, and since the London Olympics, nationally also.
They are the largest private supporters of Australian Olympic sports.
Rinehart was awarded an Order of Merit by the Australian Olympic Committee in 2014.
Of her significant monetary awards, Rinehart stated, “Warmest congratulations to all our swimmers, synchronised swimmers and other athletes who competed in Singapore. A spectacular effort!
“Few people truly understand the years of hard work, discipline and sacrifice required to compete at this level. To see Australia achieve second in the world – punching well above our population size – is amazing.
“Our swimmers have come so far since the London Olympics, where no gold medals were won, to now standing as the second-best swimming nation in the world! – behind only the USA.
“This success also reflects the years of sacrifice from parents, coaches and volunteers behind the scenes who help make these records possible.
“I’m delighted to once again provide financial bonuses 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 for our country, and for helping to build national pride.
“For swimmers like Mollie and others who achieved multiple medals, they will receive bonuses for each and every medal earned.”
