Olympics 2021: High flyer Harry Triguboff repays Aussie medallists for joy they brought him in Tokyo

A billionaire property developer has devised his own bonus scheme to reward Australia’s Tokyo Olympic medallists — with one competitor raking in $35,000.

Billionaire property developer Harry Triguboff has put a price on the joy he found in watching Australia’s Olympians compete in Tokyo, outlaying almost $650,000 to athletes for each medal won at the Games.

Triguboff, managing director of Meriton and one of the country’s richest people, made an unsolicited donation of $5000 per medal to Australia’s Olympians, rewarding 99 athletes who brought 129 medals back from Tokyo.

The 88-year-old spent significant time in lockdown watching the Games and said it had brought him and family great joy.

“Generally we were in a very bad situation — locked up, not locked up, working, not working — so this was something that took our minds off that and put it on to where we had a good time,” Triguboff said.

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Australia’s Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, Bronte and Cate Campbell with their gold medals after the women's 4x100m freestyle relay final. Picture: Alex Coppel

“I thought that they deserved (rewarding) and I should help them a little bit and that way I was a part of the whole Olympic Games, I thought.

“I can’t run and I can’t swim but I could help them. It didn’t matter if they won gold, silver or bronze, they’re all champions.”

McKeon catches up with billionaire developer Harry Triguboff after his generous offer that he would give all Australian medal winners $5000 for every medal. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Swimmer Emma McKeon, who won seven medals in Tokyo, met Triguboff in Sydney on Thursday to thank him in person for the $35,000 she will collect from the scheme she called a “generous surprise”.

“We weren’t expecting it at all, so it was very generous of him and I think it’s really nice how he’s recognising all the medals and not just gold,” McKeon said.

“He said he really admires hard work and dedication and obviously we all work very hard, so we’re really thankful to him and thankful that he’s recognising that hard work.

Keegan Palmer on his way to winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics and a bonus $5000 from Triguboff. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s been nice to come home and have everyone say how much they loved watching it, especially since everyone was in lockdown — and how much happiness and excitement it brought to their lounge rooms and Harry said it was the same for him.”

McKeon’s teammate Kyle Chalmers, who will receive $15,000 from the Triguboff fund after winning individual silver and two relay golds in Tokyo, said the funds would allow him to continue to train like professionals in the lead-up to the next Games in Paris.

Kyle Chalmers will receive $15,000 from the Triguboff fund after winning individual silver and two relay golds. Picture: Alex Coppel

“I don’t have time in my day at the moment to work a day job or go to uni, so I’m a professional athlete in an amateur sport, essentially, and every little bit of money I can get helps,” he said.

“That amount of money is going to be massive for me, it takes the load off a little bit more and I’m so grateful that he’s willing to do that, I think it’s such a nice gesture.

“I’m lucky to have my own personal sponsors and I wouldn’t be able to be a professional athlete without my sponsors, so to have that extra money coming in as well lightens the load.”

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) president John Coates thanked Triguboff for his gesture.

“Harry is hugely proud of what our team achieved in Tokyo, and for him to say thank you in this way is hugely generous and most unexpected,” Coates said.

“On behalf of the AOC, and in particular our 99 medals winners, we say thank you Harry.”

Originally published as Olympics 2021: High flyer Harry Triguboff repays Aussie medallists for joy they brought him in Tokyo