Gina Rinehart hosts Aussie Olympians on Paris river cruise

Aussie Olympians were treated to a luxury river cruise by a mining magnate credited with bankrolling their careers.

Gina Rinehart hosts athletes on a boat for dinner on the Seine River in Paris after completing competition. Picture: Adam Head

An Aussie swim star has described mining magnate Gina Rinehart as the “godmother” of the nation’s swim team, as she treated Olympians to a celebratory boat cruise in Paris.

Billionaire Rinehart bankrolls more than 90 Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including stars Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan, Kyle Chalmers and Emma McKeon.

The 70-year-old is worth a reported $46.3 billion (US$30.2b), according to Forbes.

She cut a glamorous host as she welcomed swimming and rowing athletes, and special guests, aboard a cruise of the Seine on Tuesday morning (AEST).

Gina Rinehart hosts athletes on a boat for dinner on the Seine River in Paris after completing competition. Picture: Adam Head

Among those on board was men’s 400m freestyle silver medallist Elijah Winnington, who laid bare how crucial the Hancock Prospecting chair’s cash was to the careers of his teammates.

“Gina is very generously basically funding us to swim,” he said.

“Without her financial support, we would have nothing other than prize money.

“So obviously that helps. But she also, like you said, is almost like this godmother figure.

“I don’t know many other financial backers that would come to the swimming every single night, waving the Australian flag and standing up for every single person’s race.”

Ms Rinehart expressed her pride in a speech to the 120 guests before they boarded the luxury Ducasse Sur Seine vessel to take in views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Louvre.

“I couldn’t be more proud,” she said.

“How could anyone in Australia be more proud of our Olympians than we are right now?

“Lots don’t understand the work that goes in, but I know a little about that background.

“So just have a great night, it’s wonderful to be with you.”

Kyle Chalmers was on board. Picture: Adam Head

As were Brianna Throssell and Ariarne Titmus. Picture: Adam Head

She went on to describe the decorations on board the vessel, and noted the menu was complete with 2GR beef – a welcome change for those complaining about what has been served up in the Olympic village.

“This is 100 years since the last Paris Olympics as you probably know,” Ms Rinehart said.

“So we’ve decorated the boat, inside, with photos of the last one hundred years or Olympics.

“So I hope you enjoy those and a few other little mementos as we go along.”

McKeon, McKeown and 50m freestyle winner Cam McEvoy were notable absentees on the night, according to The Australian.

The newspaper also reported athletes were sporting gold Rossi boots, which were given to them as gifts by the mining heiress.

Hancock Prospecting chief Garry Korte, Hancock Agriculture boss Adam Giles, Wesfarmers boss and former Olympic rower Rob Scott Scape co-founder and Volleyball Australia president Craig Carracher, Australian Olympic Committee chief Matt Carroll and president Ian Chesterman were all in attendance.

The party celebrated the end of competition for swimmers and rowers. Picture: Adam Head

The golden Rossi boots. Picture: Adam Head

One of the country’s greatest Olympians, McKeown recently told 2GB that Ms Rinehart had been her “life support” during her career.

“Swimmers need sponsorship, and Mrs Rinehart has supported me since I was 16. I am very thankful,” she said.

A report by the Australian Sports Foundation last year, dubbed Running On Empty, revealed 46 per cent of our elite athletes live below the poverty line on $23,000 per year or less.

It also found athletes spent more on travel and accommodation for competitions ($7974) than on food ($5019).

Australian athletes who medal at an Olympics can receive $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze under the Australian Olympic Committee’s medal incentive fund.

The vessel cruised down the river Seine. Picture: Adam Head

Writing for news.com.au, former Olympic champion Sally Pearson said many athletes had to fork out their own money to chase their dreams.

“They give up their day jobs and are a lot of the time unpaid in order to fulfil a lifelong dream,” Pearson wrote.

That’s despite the $11.5 billion the International Olympic Committee reports it made in revenue between 2017 and 2021.

Ms Rinehart has been a notable backer of Australian sport, but her involvement in netball ended in 2022 amid a uniform controversy.

She withdrew a $15m sponsorship of Netball Australia after players requested the Hancock logo not be included on the match kits.

The funding shortfall was filled when the Victorian Government announced a four-year sponsorship deal with the sport.