The big bucks are finally rolling in for Aussie star Cate Campbell as swimming prospers
She’d never made more than $30,000 prizemoney in a year - now superstar swimmer Cate Campbell has banked over half a million in 2019, and never has an Aussie Olympian deserved it more.
Olympics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Olympics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After years of scratching out a living on the paltry salary swimmers normally receive, Aussie sprint queen Cate Campbell has just struck gold after embarking on a whirlwind global tour.
And in a further boost to her career, swimmers are close to forming an international union that will safeguard the future of their sport as they band together to fight for better rights.
It was only a few months ago that swimmers were being threatened with a ban from next year’s Tokyo Olympics if they joined the rebel International Swimming League but by sticking together and standing up to their sport’s governing body FINA they have discovered they have more power than they ever imagined.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
And at 27, an age when most swimmers are thinking about hanging up their togs and goggles, Campbell, who is in the best form of her life and finally reaping the financial rewards, can think long and hard about longevity in the sport.
Before this year, the most prizemoney Campbell had ever won in a single year was around $30,000 but in 2019 alone she’s already banked half a million bucks — more than any other Aussie swimmer ever — and there’s still more rolling in.
The bulk of her earnings came from being crowned World Cup champion – the first Australian to win the coveted title, and she earned very cent of it the hard way against the toughest opponents n the world.
She collected $200,000 during the seven-leg series then got the shock of her life when she was told she was getting an extra $220,000 for winning the overall title.
“I honestly didn’t even know how the points system worked,” she told News Corp Australia.
“I just signed up because I thought it would be good for my Olympic preparation and that was the extent of it.
“In all honesty and all seriousness, I wasn’t in it for the money but I'll happily take it because it’s a life changing amount of money that I've just won, it’s the most money I'll have won in my entire career so it’s so surreal.”
The World Cup wasn’t the only event where Campbell cleaned up. She also won big at the world championships and the Champions Swim Series, which was created by FINA as a counter to the rebel professional league that Campbell was so influential in getting off the ground.
Campbell is also one of the stars of the International Swimming League (ISL) and will earn at least $30,000 for representing the London Roar in the inaugural season, but there’s another jackpot on offer if her team wins next month’s final in Las Vegas, though she has no idea how she’ll spend her fortune.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead,” Campbell said.
“Not all the money has hit my bank account and I haven’t got home yet.
“I haven’t made any plans about what to do with it, but I took everyone out for a nice dinner when I was over in Copenhagen when we training there.”
Campbell has already raced in nine different countries this year outside of Australia and will make it 10 when she competes at London’s Aquatic Centre this weekend.
It’s the first time she’s been back to London’s Olympic pool since she won her first gold medal there in 2012 as part of the Australian relay that stunned the world and launched her career into orbit.
“It’s great to be back here,” she said.
“London was incredibly special because it was just so unexpected.
“Rio was a whole different set of emotions because we were the undisputed favourites and were supposed to win, but there is something very special about that underdog come from behind win.”
Originally published as The big bucks are finally rolling in for Aussie star Cate Campbell as swimming prospers
‘We are incredibly excited’: Next Gen rugby 7s women turning heads
There were blowouts, close calls, a hot boot and multiple try-fectas in the opening round of the Next Gen Sevens rugby series in Sydney. Stars, great photos and Rd 1 result wrap.
Lions team bus delivers Ian Healy painful Gabba reality check
With the 2032 Brisbane Olympics approaching rapidly, Australian cricket great Ian Healy was left with a wry smile as the Brisbane Lions rolled into the AFL grand final at the MCG.