Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and his Government’s Minister for Sport and Aged Care, Anika Wells, today announced a $283 million investment in High Performance sport over the next two years.  

The move, which follows news of Aus$20,000 (conditional, see video below) prizes for Australian winners at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was welcomed by many codes, Swimming Australia among them. The aquatics federation Down Under issued the following statement:

Swimming Australia has welcomed a major investment in High Performance sport announced today by the Australian Government and thanked the Government for its continued and generous support.  

Earlier today the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and Minister for Sport and Aged Care, Anika Wells, announced a $283 million investment in High Performance sport over the next two years.  

The Government’s announcement represents a significant overall increase in High Performance sport investment and includes an additional $17.6 million for Direct Athlete Investment Support grants and an historic $54.9 million of additional investment to support Paralympic sports – double existing levels.  

Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse has commended the Government for backing the ambition and potential of Olympic and Paralympic sports.  

“Today’s announcement is great news for Australian sport. The Australian Government, on behalf of the Australian public, are our biggest supporters and we are very grateful for their continued support.  

“On behalf of Swimming Australia, our athletes and coaches, I extend our sincere thanks to the Prime Minister and Minister Wells for recognising the value of investing in High Performance sport and for backing us over the years beyond Paris.  

“Today’s announcement ensures that Swimming Australia can plan with added confidence and resources to support our athletes across the country and teams that proudly represent Australia on the world stage. It also ensures that we can keep an eye on the future by continuing to invest in High Performance pathways and innovations on the path to 2032.  

“It is also pleasing to see increased investment in direct athlete support and a much needed increase in Paralympic sport investment.” - Rob Woodhouse. Photo: Emma McKeon, centre, masked, talks to her uncle Rob Woodhouse, general manager of London Roar, at the Tokyo Olympics in July, 2021 – photo by Craig Lord

While there are further details to be settled with the Australian Sports Commission regarding sport by sport investment levels, we are confident that the Government’s additional investment will support swimming’s standing as Australia’s leading Olympic and Paralympic sport.  

Swimming Australia also recognises the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia for leading advocacy efforts to secure this outcome.  

We are united behind Australia’s High Performance Sport 2032+ Strategy, Win Well, and we are delighted that today’s announcement will support our swimmers to proudly represent Australia, inspiring a more united, active and healthy nation connected to sport. 

Back to those prizes of 20k for gold, 10k for silver and 5k for bronze for Australians in Paris, the money does not stack up for multiple winners: whether an athlete claimed gold once or three times, the reward is the same: a one-off 20k that is also dependent on the athlete committing to preparation for the following Olympic Games in 2028, as explained here:

For more daily swimming news from our monthly Vortex compilation visit SOS:

The Vortex, June 2024 / The Vortex, May 2024 / The Vortex April 2024