Australia’s swimmers have signed a landmark deal to get a share of revenue

Australia’s swimmers have signed a landmark revenue share agreement, but how much will they rake in? See the full details.

Finally, Australia’s swimmers are going to get what they deserve.

It’s taken way too long, but Australia’s most reliable Olympic medal winners have now reached an agreement with the national federation to get a share of the money they help generate through their incredible performances in the pool.

Not only that – but more importantly – the Australian Swimmers Association (ASA) have also struck a landmark deal for swimmers to be given a say in how the sport should be run.

“This is really a historic moment,” ASA President Bronte Campbell said. “It’s the first time we’ve had this sort of agreement.

“As we’re seeing across sports in this nation and worldwide, athletes having a voice is important for the success of the sport and the reason we wanted this agreement was to ensure that the athlete voice gets included and elevated.”

The cash will help too, although no-one is expecting to get rich quick.

Australia’s swimmers might look like a million dollars when they’re standing on the podium with gold medals around their necks, but they certainly don’t get paid millions.

And while they’re still working out the exact figures after signing a memorandum of understanding with Swimming Australia, it’s no secret the sport isn’t exactly flush with money, without a naming rights sponsor or a long-term broadcast deal.

ASA President Bronte Campbell says it’s a historic moment for Australian swimming. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The 2022 annual report showed SA generated $23.758m in annual turnover, with $15.121m from government grants and $3.445m from sponsorship income.

“In order to swim professionally and have a long career, finances play a big part of that so to be able to tie the success of the sport to the swimmers sharing in that is a really important step forward,” Campbell said.

“But this is more than just the revenue share. It’s ensuring that our voice is present in the negotiations.

“Currently, there’s not a huge amount to share, but the goal is that we work together and figure out how to make the sport stronger and stronger commercially so that we can then all be sharing that success.”

Although swimmers have been fighting for a better deal since the days when the best competitors wore full length bathers including skirts and undergarments, the newly signed agreement has come together over the last two years.

The negotiation process had been complicated by the high turnover of leaders at Swimming Australia but newly appointed president Michelle Gallen said there was always the will to get it done.

“We’ve always had that commitment to work with the swimmers,” Gallen said.

“As Bronte said, it’s a new thing for this sport. We’re not an AFL, or a traditional sport that has that income that’s shared between the sport and the athletes.

“There was a journey about how do we work together to make this the best outcome so that the sport continues to thrive alongside our swimmers?

“We’re really excited to all be now in the same tent so that any success is our success.”

The deal is a first for swimming and gives a glimmer of hope to other cash-strapped Olympic sports that they can get some much needed funding.

Kyle Chalmers and Matthew Temple at the Australian swim trials. Picture: William WEST / AFP

Olympic long jumper and commentator Dave Culbert welcomed the news but said it was time that major events, such as the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, started sharing their profits with all participants.

“The problem for sports like athletics and swimming is they haven’t got much money so there’s not much revenue to be shared,” Culbert said.

“And when it comes to the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, they don’t get a dividend.

“But the athletes are the stars of the show and they should share the rewards of whatever benefits there are from plying their trade.

“If you’re an Australian cricketer or if you’re a Socceroos or a Matilda and you play in a major championship, there’s a financial dividend, you’re not in a financial deficit.

“So good on them and hopefully Swimming Australia can raise some revenue so they can share in it because most of the national sports don’t, so that’s why they can’t afford to pay them. I’m sure they’d like to.”