Article by Alex Di Rossi & Hannah Cross courtesy of the West Australian.
Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart has donated more than $60 million to Australian Olympians over the past decade, new figures reveal.
The mining magnate and current Western Australian of the Year, whose net worth is estimated to be close to $40 billion, began supporting Australian athletes after the swim team won just one gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Through her company Hancock Prospecting, she has since poured money into Australian swimming, rowing and volleyball.
The Herald Sun reports that it’s the biggest single contribution to Olympic sport by an individual anywhere in the world.
Hancock Prospecting sponsors the Olympic team, but also provides money to directly support individual athletes.
It is believed that Mrs Rinehart is currently supporting 75 swimmers and 50 rowers.
Swimmer Shayna Jack said Mrs Rinehart’s financial contribution helps athletes to get the most out of their careers. “More athletes would retire well and truly before their thirties if it wasn’t for Mrs Rinehart’s generosity,” Ms Jack, pictured, told the Herald Sun. “(She) is the most generous and supportive person towards the Australian swimmers. She supports us financially which allows us to make a career out of our swimming.”
Mrs Rinehart attended the recent World Aquatic Championships in Japan, where Australia won 13 gold medals in swimming, more than any other nation.
“I’m told this is Australia’s best ever international swimming performance,” she said at the time.
“It’s very exciting to be here with these young role models and patriotic ambassadors.” National champion rower Tara Rigney said Mrs Rinehart’s contributions helped to grow her sport in Australia.
“She is an amazing support for rowing, especially the women’s rowing trying to achieve gender parity across the field,” Ms Rigney said.
“Where you are training three times a day, six days a week, it’d be really hard to keep a job and do that.”
Former Swimming Australia president John Bertrand called Mrs Rinehart, pictured, the “matriarch” of Australia’s Olympic team.
“Sure, Hancock Prospecting gets its name poolside. But for Gina this is about giving back to Australia,” Mr Bertrand said.
“She sees these swimmers as future leaders, and there’s a message about resilience of overcoming setbacks that resonates with her, and they can see common ground given what she has done in business.”
Mr Bertrand said her support had been a “gamechanger”.
