Synchronised swimming’s biggest fan: Gina Rinehart flew the Olympic squad to perform at her daughter’s wedding – and spent $5 MILLION on Rio teams
- Billionaire Gina Rinehart one of Australian Olympic teams’ biggest backers
- She has reportedly spent up to $5 million sponsoring national teams
- Flew in synchronised swimming team to perform at daughter’s wedding
- ‘We wouldn’t be at the Olympics without her, there’s no doubt’
- Mrs Rinehart will reportedly attend events at the Rio Olympics
If Australian athletes brings home gold from Rio De Janeiro, they may have Gina Rinehart to thank.
The billionaire mining magnate has thrown an estimated $5 million behind the national Olympic team in the lead-up to Saturday’s Opening Ceremony, the Australian Financial Review reported.
Her largesse extends to synchronised swimming, swimming, volleyball and rowing athletes. Officials gush about her generosity, which goes beyond money.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mrs Rinehart even had the Olympic synchronised swimming team perform at her daughter Ginia’s Rinehart’s lavish wedding in June.
Synchro Australia spokeswoman Roslyn Carbon said: ‘The team did indeed go and were able to do a presentation in the pool…. it was lovely.’
Ms Carbon said the team were ‘very pleased’ to be at the Qualia Resort on Hamilton Island as the businesswoman’s youngest daughter married Simon Robinson.
The competitors could not perform ‘full lifts’ during their performance because the pool was not deep enough.
The Hancock Prospecting chief has also flown the synchronised swimming and volleyball teams to her mine at Roy Hill and to Uluru.
‘Mrs Rinehart has been absolutely phenomenal,’ Ms Carbon said. ‘We wouldn’t be at the Olympics without her, there’s no doubt.’
Her money has allowed the team to battle it out at international events and hire a top coach.
Synchronised swimming is not funded by the government and the team were very proud to qualify for the Games, one of only eight teams.
‘We would be bowled over if we got a medal,’ Ms Carbon said.
According to an Australian Financial Review report, Mrs Rinehart – the patron of Volleyball Australia and sponsor of the national bodies for swimming and rowing – will be attending the games in Rio and flitting between events.
She has been seen particularly often poolside, appearing at the national swimming championships in April seated next to Olympian Michael Klim.
‘Gina has been a game-changed for us,’ swim chief John Bertrand was quoted telling the AFR’s John Stensholt.
‘Sure, Hancock Prospecting gets its name poolside. But for Gina this is about giving back to Australia.’
Mrs Rinehart was awarded the Australian Olympic Committee’s Order of Merit in 2014.
Representatives of Mrs Rinehart was approached for comment on Friday.
