Australia’s Commonwealth Games team is under strict instructions to make no mention of billionaire Gina Rinehart or other private benefactors in media interviews or on social media until after the 2026 Glasgow Games are closed.
The warning comes after Rinehart offered cash bonuses to Australia’s swimmers for winning medals and breaking world records at the Commonwealth Games.
Bonus structure for swimmers
Individual swimmers will pocket $30,000 for a world record, $20,000 for a gold medal, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. Relay team members will be rewarded with $7,500 per person for a world record, $5,000 for a gold medal, $3,750 for silver and $2,500 for bronze.
A Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) spokesperson said Australia’s best swimmers had a history of always showing up to the Games. “The opportunity to compete in the green and gold is the biggest incentive in making this happen,” the spokesperson said. “We commend Mrs. Rinehart for her support of Australian sport, it is exemplary.”
Blackout period and sponsor protection
The Australian “team membership agreement” includes a clause that prevents all athletes from acknowledging rewards schemes not linked to official Commonwealth Games partners and sponsors, as well as partners of the Australian team, during a blackout period that runs until the Games close on 3 August. The clause is designed to protect partners and sponsors that support the Australian team directly as well as the embattled Games.
The bonuses being offered by Rinehart are only available to swimmers and would be paid directly to the athletes without any involvement from CGA or Swimming Australia.
Reaction from athletes
Freestyle king Kyle Chalmers has welcomed the potential windfall for Australia’s swimmers. “I’m super grateful to have the support of CGA to get us here, but to be able to have some medal incentive, it gives us a lot more purpose and reason,” sprint star Chalmers said. “Otherwise you get a medal and the uniform ... so [I’m] very grateful to have supporters.”
Chalmers added Australia’s swimmers are “very lucky” with the level of support they receive compared to some other sports. “It’s a choice you make and I guess you kind of understand the financial position of the sport,” Chalmers said. “But fingers crossed there can be change for the next generation to kind of motivate them to continue to make the sacrifices and choose our sport, just to keep those talented athletes in there.”
Official distance from CGA
Australia’s chef de mission Petria Thomas distanced CGA from Rinehart’s bonus scheme. “That’s a separate arrangement and it’s not something that Commonwealth Games Australia is involved in whatsoever,” former swimmer Thomas said. “Good luck to the swimmers, I guess. They have someone backing that performance, but that’s a separate matter for them.”
The bonuses come on top of annual payments Rinehart makes to many of Australia’s top-tier swimmers. Athletes who win multiple medals will receive a payment for every medal they win. In a statement, Rinehart said the bonuses are a way of Australia showing appreciation. “There is something very uplifting about seeing an Australian athlete stand on the podium while our flag is raised,” Rinehart said.
