Almost $6 Million Up for Grabs at 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships

2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships

  • July 12th-28th, 2019
  • Gwangju, South Korea

Almost $6 million are up for grabs at the FINA World Aquatics Championships that began on Friday in Gwangju, South Korea. Excluding World Record bonuses, there are $5,847,800 being offered across the 6 recognized FINA disciplines (with no meny being awarded to beach water polo athletes).

This is a modest increase from the $5,460,300 that were on offer at the 2017 World Championships of about 7.1%. That much smaller than the increase to prize money at the 2018 World Short Course Swimming Championships (one discipline only), which was nearly-doubled in response to financial pressures from the upstart International Swimming League.

This prize money is in addition to that which may be received by athletes from sponsors, national federations, or Olympic committees.

While prize money for open water swimming, diving, high diving, solo/duet synchro, and water polo stayed the same; prize money in team synchro (“artistic swimming”) increased due to the addition of the “Highlight routine” event, and pool swimming money was also increased.

Elaborating on the increase in pool swimming money, the payouts for the top 3 spots will remain the same: $20,000, $15,00, and $10,000. 4th place through 8th place finishers, however, will each receive $1,000 more than they did in 2017: $6,000 down to $2,000, respectively.

Prize Money Summary, Per Discipline

NO. OF EVENTS PRIZE $ PER
TOTAL PRIZE $
Swimming 42 $65,000 $2,730,000
Open Water Swimming 7 $60,000 $420,000
Diving 13 $60,000 $780,000
High Diving 2 $63,900 $127,800
Solo/Duet Synchro 6 $60,000 $360,000
Team Synchro 4 $177,500 $710,000
Water Polo 2 $360,000 $720,000
Total $5,847,800
World Record Bonus (Swimming Only) $30,000

Prize Money Distribution Per Event

SWIMMING SWIMMING OW SWIMMING DIVING HIGH DIVING SYNCHRO (SOLO & DUET) SYNCHRO (TEAM & FREE) WATER POLO
1st $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $20,000 $50,000 $80,000
2nd $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $40,000 $70,000
3rd $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $30,000 $60,000
4th $6,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $20,000 $50,000
5th $5,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $15,000 $40,000
6th $4,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $10,000 $30,000
7th $3,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $7,500 $20,000
8th $2,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $5,000 $10,000
9th $900
10th $800
11th $700
12th $500
13th $500
14th $500

 

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WORLDCHAMPSMEDALLIST
5 years ago

When would these swimmers receive their prize money?

run-dmc
5 years ago

They should pay double for relays.

mcgillrocks
5 years ago

Couple of things:

1. How much (if any) does USA Swimming add to that?
2. Is water polo $80,000 per player of for the whole winning team?
3. They should add a $10,000 bonus for the #1 time in the world, and maybe $15000 for a championship record IMO.

Catherine
5 years ago

Ok, I’ll bite. What is beach water polo?

Dave
5 years ago

Curious, since the swimmers can possibly make $ at these Championships, Who is paying for the Pros to travel and stay in Singapore? Do the Pros’s need to Reimburse USA swimming for their expenses if they win prize money. That seems very fair ti me. Isn’t USA Swimming running a deficit?

Taa
Reply to  Dave
5 years ago

Umm. Caeleb you need to pay your hotel bill.

CT Swim Fan
Reply to  Dave
5 years ago

I highly doubt anyone on the World Championship team is paying anything to travel to this meet.

John
Reply to  Dave
5 years ago

Yeh, represent your country at the highest stage but pay your hotel bill IF you win….. really?

Tomek
Reply to  Dave
5 years ago

Dave would make excellent USA Swimming president…Clever thinking

Dan
5 years ago

Maybe this is because they spent $2.6-$2.7 million on prize money for the FINA Champions Series (plus other expenses)?
Even if Sarah Sjostrom wins all her events and all her relays makes final she is still going to win less money then during the Champions Series. The World Champs is not as much about the money, but if they can put up that money maybe for the Champions series maybe they could have increased the prize money at the World Champs by 50% from 2017 ($30000, $22500, $15000, $7500, $6000, $4500, $3000, $1500), for a little over $8million.
I also think the World Record bonuses should be higher (1st place finishing plus WR bonus should be at least $50000).

Brownish
Reply to  Dan
5 years ago

1st place (20) + WR (30) is 50k. But you can swim WR in prelims or semis, too 😉

DBSwims
5 years ago

According to the Swimswam’s World Championship Previews, Dressel’s about to make $70,000 in individuals (idk about relays) plus a possible $90,000 in WR in the 50/100 free and 100 fly.
Jeez

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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