Rio Olympic Games: Gold rush can see athletes in the money thanks to Royal Australian Mint incentive

THOMAS Fraser-Holmes, Melissa Breen and Patty Mills have been given a $70,000 incentive by the Royal Australian Mint to win gold in Rio in August.

Cash for gold! Rio athletes can earn a mint

THOMAS Fraser-Holmes, Melissa Breen and Patty Mills have been given a $70,000 incentive by the Royal Australian Mint to win gold in Rio in August.

The trio were yesterday unveiled as ambassadors for the Australian Olympic Team Coin Program and told if they bring home the goods from the Games they will receive a limited edition 1kg gold coin valued at $70k.

Fraser-Holmes was the first swimmer to book his spot on the Olympic team in Adelaide last week when he won the 400m individual medley on Thursday night.

The 24-year-old, who made three finals on Olympic debut in London in 2012, toured the Australian Mint in Canberra while for Australian athletics’ women’s 100m record holder Breen it is right near her home.

“Being a local Canberran I’ve grown up with the Mint just down the road so I’m excited to be working with such a great national icon and can’t wait to share my journey to Rio,” she said.

Breen is yet to post an Olympic qualifying time but said she was confident that wasn’t far away and she would be on the plane to Rio.

Mills meanwhile will headline a star-studded Boomers squad when his NBA season with San Antonio is over.

The Mint is honouring Australia’s 2016 Olympians by releasing its special commemorative coin program later this year.

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Originally published as Rio Olympic Games: Gold rush can see athletes in the money thanks to Royal Australian Mint incentive