Rinehart rewards Aussie athletes with $1,272,500 in bonuses

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 30 July 2026

Rinehart rewards Aussie athletes with $1,272,500 in bonuses

Australia’s medal-winning swimmers and Para swimmers will share in $1,272,500 in bonuses courtesy of the swimmers’ patron, Gina Rinehart, and Hancock Prospecting after an outstanding medal haul at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

As of today (morning of 30 July AEST), of the 47 golds won so far, the swim team earnt 36 medals, of the 21 silvers won so far, the swim team earnt 16 medals, and of the 35 bronze medals won so far, the swim team earnt 23 medals. Of the total medals of 103 so far, the swim team achieved 75 of these medals.

These medal-winning rewards are available across the sports Mrs Rinehart is patron of: swimming, artistic swimming and rowing. As artistic swimming and rowing are not included in the Commonwealth Games program, only swimming and Para swimming medal bonuses apply in Glasgow.

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 of the Games ending, pending confirmation of updated banking details.

The initiative continues Mrs Rinehart’s longstanding private support of Olympic athletes, including annual direct funding (which is additional to medal bonuses), scholarships, and career transition assistance. It is such support spanning many years, that has helped to allow the swimmers to dedicate time to training and achieve the international status they have achieved. This achievement does not come overnight, it takes many years.

Medal-winning swimmers and Para swimmers will receive the following cash rewards under Mrs Rinehart’s swimming bonus schedule:

Note on relays: lineups can change between heats and the final. Swimmers who compete in the final of a medalling relay receive the full per-person rate above. Swimmers who compete only in the heats of a medalling relay (and not the final) receive half that per-person rate. The above figures include this. 

Note: for the men’s swimming gold that was a draw, both swimmers are being paid the full gold bonus.

Mrs Rinehart’s announcement of the cash bonuses in the lead-up to the Games was a critical factor for many of Australia’s top swimmers in electing to head to Glasgow. 

Mrs Rinehart and Hancock Prospecting have supported swimming for more than three decades in West Australia, close to two decades in Queensland, and for more than a decade nationally.

While sporting organisations have seen many changing presidents on salaries and expenses, Mrs Rinehart as Patron has been a constant, and unlike the Presidents, has not received any expenses for attending the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and other international or across Australian events. She has directed her support to the athletes themselves, ensuring they experience the benefits and can hence focus on training, competing and representing Australia at their best.

Mrs Rinehart and Hancock Prospecting are also among the largest private supporters of Australian Olympic sports. Mrs Rinehart was awarded an Order of Merit by the Australian Olympic Committee, rare to achieve for those who are not Olympians.

Quotes attributable to Mrs Gina Rinehart AO:

“Warmest congratulations to all our swimmers and athletes who competed in Glasgow and did Australia proud! 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. 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.

“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.

“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.”

Quotes attributable to Dawn Fraser AC MBE:

“They’ve all done very, very well with the many years of support from Gina Rinehart. I wish my dear friend Gina had been around when I was swimming!”

Quotes attributable to Olympic gold medallist and former swimmer Cate Campbell OAM:

“When people ask why Australian swimmers are performing so strongly, I think back to the London Olympics, where I was part of the relay team that won Australia’s only gold swimming medal. At a time when Australian swimming was struggling and support for the team was unfashionable, Mrs Rinehart stepped in. 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.”

Quotes attributable to swimming parent and Swimming Queensland Director Jeff Winnington:

“Mrs Rinehart is a dedicated Patron of swimming, and her support has made an enormous difference to Australian swimming. As a father, I have seen firsthand how that backing has helped my son (Elijah) focus on his training, compete at his best and represent his country without the financial pressures many athletes face. Without Mrs Rinehart’s contribution, there is no doubt Australia would not have achieved the same success on the medal table not only in Glasgow, but from other international Games as well.”