At this stage, World Aquatics won’t be matching what World Athletics has promised.
“This is something that World Aquatics has looked at ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but decided to invest extra prizemoney into World Aquatics events instead,” a World Aquatics spokesperson told this masthead earlier this month. “This policy continues to be the same for World Aquatics today.”
Swimmers who win a world championship gold medal take home $US20,000.
Titmus was also the beneficiary of a $US30,000 world record bonus at last year’s world titles when she beat Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh in a blockbuster 400m freestyle final.
Titmus, who won gold medals in the 200m and 400m freestyle events at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, is one Australia’s most well-paid swimmers but isn’t financially driven.
“We’re putting on a show for the world,” Titmus said. “We’re the ones who work our butt off but I’m not going to be here complaining about it because that’s never why I started swimming.
“If I was to become an athlete for money, I’ve chosen the wrong sport. All of us are not doing it for that reason. But if some things were to change, you never say never.
“I’m racing at the Olympic Games through pure passion and love for my sport and pride and representing our country. I don’t think people are going to the Olympic Games to win big cash.”
Backstroker Kaylee McKeown, another one of Australia’s top gold medal chances in Paris, echoed Titmus’ sentiments.
“I’m not in the sport for money. Anything I get is a bonus. I would be a tennis player if I was wanting money,” McKeown said. “I just enjoy what I do and it’s about the only thing I’m really good at.”
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In a statement, the IOC said: “The IOC redistributes 90 per cent of all its income, in particular to the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs). This means that every day the equivalent of $US4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.”
Not all sporting governing bodies will be as generous as athletics.
The head of cycling’s governing body has already called out World Athletics.
“We really believe that this is not the Olympic spirit,” UCI president David Lappartient said. “The Olympic spirit is to share revenues and have more athletes compete worldwide. Not only [to] put all the money on the top athletes but spread the money.
“If we concentrate money on top athletes, a lot of opportunities will disappear for athletes all over the world.”
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