2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS – SWIMMING
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- Results
Per our calculations, Caeleb Dressel leads all individual money-earners with $110,000 in prize money from the 2019 World Championships.
We calculated our totals based on FINA’s listed prize money for the event.We’ll do a quick refresher below, but the full system is listed out here.
2019 World Champs Prize Money
- Top 8 finishers in each event earn prize money:
- 1st: $20,000
- 2nd: $15,000
- 3rd: $10,000
- 4th: $6,000
- 5th: $5,000
- 6th: $4,000
- 7th: $3,000
- 8th: $2,000
- World records: $30,000 each
A few notes about the list below:
- We calculated these out manually, and though we tried to account for all ties, there may be mistakes somewhere in the data. If you see something that looks off, let us know.
- When ties occurred, we followed the typical rules: if swimmers tied for second, we add up the prize money for 2nd and 3rd and split the total between the two tied swimmers.
- We didn’t include relay prizes, as it’s hard to judge how federations will split the money between finals swimmers, prelims-only swimmers or others.
- We also didn’t include relay world record bonuses. Only individual events are included in our tally.
- As always, this list only tracks money earned, not necessarily money accepted. Amateur athletes have restrictions on how much prize money they can accept.
2019 World Championships Prize Money List – Pool Swimming
Note: pool athletes who also competed in open water swimming would have additional prize money.
| Rank | Name | Nation | Total Prize Money | Total Prize Events | World Record Bonuses |
| 1 | Dressel, Caeleb | United States | $110,000 | 4 | $30,000 |
| 2 | Smith, Regan | United States | $80,000 | 1 | $60,000 |
| 3 | Sjoestroem, Sarah | Sweden | $70,000 | 5 | |
| 3 | Peaty, Adam | Great Britain | $70,000 | 2 | $30,000 |
| 5 | Milak, Kristof | Hungary | $56,000 | 2 | $30,000 |
| 6 | Seto, Daiya | Japan | $55,000 | 3 | |
| 7 | Chupkov, Anton | Russian Federation | $52,000 | 2 | $30,000 |
| 8 | Rylov, Evgeny | Russian Federation | $50,000 | 3 | |
| 9 | Efimova, Yuliya | Russian Federation | $45,000 | 3 | |
| 9 | Titmus, Ariarne | Australia | $45,000 | 3 | |
| 9 | Wilson, Matthew | Australia | $45,000 | 1 | $30,000 |
| 12 | Sun, Yang | China | $44,000 | 3 | |
| 13 | Hosszu, Katinka | Hungary | $42,000 | 3 | |
| 14 | King, Lilly | United States | $40,000 | 2 | |
| 14 | Manuel, Simone | United States | $40,000 | 2 | |
| 16 | Ye, Shiwen | China | $36,000 | 3 | |
| 17 | Ledecky, Katie | United States | $35,000 | 2 | |
| 17 | Quadarella, Simona | Italy | $35,000 | 2 | |
| 19 | Masse, Kylie | Canada | $30,000 | 2 | |
| 19 | Paltrinieri, Gregorio | Italy | $30,000 | 2 | |
| 19 | Smoliga, Olivia | United States | $30,000 | 2 | |
| 22 | Murphy, Ryan | United States | $27,000 | 3 | |
| 23 | Pickrem, Sydney | Canada | $26,000 | 3 | |
| 24 | Mckeown, Kaylee | Australia | $25,500 | 3 | |
| 25 | Campbell, Cate | Australia | $25,000 | 2 | |
| 26 | Kapas, Boglarka | Hungary | $24,000 | 2 | |
| 26 | Xu, Jiayu | China | $24,000 | 2 | |
| 28 | Kohler, Sarah | Germany | $21,000 | 2 | |
| 29 | Christiansen, Henrik | Norway | $20,000 | 2 | |
| 29 | Le Clos, Chad | South Africa | $20,000 | 2 | |
| 29 | Macneil, Margaret | Canada | $20,000 | 1 | |
| 29 | Pellegrini, Federica | Italy | $20,000 | 1 | |
| 29 | Waddell, Zane | South Africa | $20,000 | 1 | |
| 29 | Wellbrock, Florian | Germany | $20,000 | 1 | |
| 35 | Wang, Jianjiahe | China | $19,000 | 3 | |
| 35 | Atherton, Minna | Australia | $19,000 | 2 | |
| 35 | Kromowidjojo, Ranomi | Netherlands | $19,000 | 2 | |
| 35 | Schoenmaker, Tatjana | South Africa | $19,000 | 2 | |
| 39 | Andrew, Michael | United States | $18,000 | 4 | |
| 40 | Romanchuk, Mykhailo | Ukraine | $17,000 | 2 | |
| 41 | Ruck, Taylor | Canada | $16,000 | 3 | |
| 41 | Aubry, David | France | $16,000 | 2 | |
| 41 | Mckeon, Emma | Australia | $16,000 | 2 | |
| 44 | Carraro, Martina | Italy | $15,000 | 2 | |
| 44 | Detti, Gabriele | Italy | $15,000 | 2 | |
| 44 | Smith, Leah | United States | $15,000 | 2 | |
| 44 | Chalmers, Kyle | Australia | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Desplanches, Jeremy | Switzerland | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Flickinger, Hali | United States | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Horton, Mack | Australia | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Kostin, Oleg | Russian Federation | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Lima, Felipe | Brazil | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Litherland, Jay | United States | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Matsumoto, Katsuhiro | Japan | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Medeiros, Etiene | Brazil | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Minakov, Andrei | Russian Federation | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Pilato, Benedetta | Italy | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 44 | Wilby, James | Great Britain | $15,000 | 1 | |
| 59 | Yan, Zibei | China | $14,000 | 2 | |
| 60 | Larkin, Mitchell | Australia | $13,000 | 2 | |
| 60 | Scott, Duncan | Great Britain | $13,000 | 2 | |
| 62 | Fratus, Bruno | Brazil | $12,500 | 1 | |
| 62 | Gkolomeev, Kristian | Greece | $12,500 | 1 | |
| 64 | Vaskina, Daria | Russian Federation | $12,000 | 2 | |
| 65 | Prigoda, Kirill | Russian Federation | $11,000 | 2 | |
| 66 | Dahlia, Kelsi | United States | $10,000 | 2 | |
| 66 | Kesely, Ajna | Hungary | $10,000 | 2 | |
| 66 | Mcloughlin, Jack | Australia | $10,000 | 2 | |
| 66 | Clareburt, Lewis | New Zealand | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Drabot, Katie | United States | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Gomes Junior, Joao | Brazil | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Greenbank, Luke | Great Britain | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Grinev, Vladislav | Russian Federation | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Kalisz, Chase | United States | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Kolesnikov, Kliment | Russian Federation | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Ohashi, Yui | Japan | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Osman, Farida | Egypt | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Santos, Nicholas | Brazil | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 66 | Watanabe, Ippei | Japan | $10,000 | 1 | |
| 80 | Irie, Ryosuke | Japan | $9,000 | 2 | |
| 81 | Oleksiak, Penny | Canada | $8,000 | 2 | |
| 81 | Proud, Benjamin | Great Britain | $8,000 | 2 | |
| 81 | Renshaw, Molly | Great Britain | $8,000 | 2 | |
| 81 | Wilson, Andrew | United States | $8,000 | 2 | |
| 81 | Malyutin, Martin | Russian Federation | $8,000 | 1 | |
| 86 | Baker, Kathleen | United States | $7,500 | 2 | |
| 87 | Throssell, Brianna | Australia | $7,000 | 2 | |
| 87 | Wattel, Marie | France | $7,000 | 2 | |
| 89 | Balandin, Dmitriy | Kazakhstan | $6,000 | 2 | |
| 89 | Frolov, Sergii | Ukraine | $6,000 | 2 | |
| 89 | Melverton, Kiah | Australia | $6,000 | 2 | |
| 89 | Aoki, Reona | Japan | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Atkinson, Alia | Jamaica | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Blume, Pernille | Denmark | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Burdisso, Federico | Italy | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Di Liddo, Elena | Italy | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Haughey, Siobhan | Hong Kong, China | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Heintz, Philip | Germany | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Hentke, Franziska | Germany | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Kawecki, Radoslaw | Poland | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Koseki, Yasuhiro | Japan | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Morozov, Vladimir | Russian Federation | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Panziera, Margherita | Italy | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Pieroni, Blake | United States | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Pons, Joanllu | Spain | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Rapsys, Danas | Lithuania | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Stubblety-cook, Zac | Australia | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Twichell, Ashley | United States | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 89 | Margalis, Melanie | United States | $6,000 | 1 | |
| 110 | Davies, Georgia | Great Britain | $5,500 | 1 | |
| 111 | Glinta, Robert | Romania | $5,000 | 2 | |
| 111 | Bernek, Peter | Hungary | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Chierighini, Marcelo | Brazil | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | De Tullio, Marco | Italy | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Gough, Maddy | Australia | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Grevers, Matt | United States | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Kameneva, Mariia | Russian Federation | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Kesyl, Denys | Ukraine | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Koch, Marco | Germany | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Megli, Filippo | Italy | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Metella, Mehdy | France | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Overholt, Emily | Canada | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Shymanovich, Ilya | Belarus | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Szabo, Szebasztian | Hungary | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Thomas, Alys | Great Britain | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Yang, Junxuan | China | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Yu, Jingyao | China | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 111 | Omoto, Rika | Japan | $5,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Belmonte, Mireia | Spain | $4,000 | 2 | |
| 129 | Acerenza, Domenico | Italy | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Govorov, Andrii | Ukraine | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Hansen, Jessica | Australia | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Harting, Zach | United States | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Heemskerk, Femke | Netherlands | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Lewis, Clyde | Australia | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Mchugh, Ally | United States | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Nemeth, Nandor | Hungary | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Pebley, Jacob | United States | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Shemberev, Maksym | Azerbaijan | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Szilagyi, Liliana | Hungary | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Temple, Matthew | Australia | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Wang, Shun | China | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Wog, Kelsey Lauren | Canada | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 129 | Kim, Seoyeong | Republic of Korea | $4,000 | 1 | |
| 145 | Sakai, Natsumi | Japan | $3,500 | 1 | |
| 146 | Bonnet, Charlotte | France | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Burian, Katalin | Hungary | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Chimrova, Svetlana | Russian Federation | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Comerford, Mallory | United States | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | De Deus, Leonardo | Brazil | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Egorova, Anna | Russian Federation | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Elendt, Anna | Germany | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Guido, Guilherme | Brazil | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Guy, James | Great Britain | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Hansson, Louise | Sweden | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Hopkin, Anna | Great Britain | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Jakabos, Zsuzsanna | Hungary | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Ji, Xinjie | China | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Juraszek, Pawe | Poland | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Kozma, Dominik | Hungary | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Lecluyse, Fanny | Belgium | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Litchfield, Max | Great Britain | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Mignon, Clement | France | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Ottesen, Jeanette | Denmark | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Pilhatsch, Caroline | Austria | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | Telegdy, Adam | Hungary | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 146 | O’Connor, Siobhan | Great Britain | $3,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Anderson, Freya | Great Britain | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Andrusenko, Veronika | Russian Federation | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Campbell, Bronte | Australia | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Castiglioni, Arianna | Italy | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Christou, Apostolos | Greece | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Corbett, Kaylene | South Africa | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Correia, Breno | Brazil | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Devine, Abrahm | United States | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Grothe, Zane | United States | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Hulkko, Ida | Finland | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Kenderesi, Tamas | Hungary | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Knipping, Arjan | Netherlands | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Kusch, Marius | Germany | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Lesaffre, Fantine | France | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Norgaard, Alexander | Denmark | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Persson, Erik | Sweden | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Shioura, Shinri | Japan | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Shirai, Rio | Japan | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Stephens, Laura | Great Britain | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Thormeyer, Markus | Canada | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Toussaint, Kira | Netherlands | $2,000 | 1 | |
| 168 | Zhilkin, Andrey | Russian Federation | $2,000 | 1 |
This is buls… Caleb made too little money… Fina Needs to start paying more to atheletes. Amoumt of medals and wrs caleb made he should have make MINIMUM 1-2million of dollar.
Does USA Swimming provide additional prize money for professional athletes?
Yes alot
How much exactly is a lot?
I think the USOC provides $7500 / gold medal, and I found USA Swimming provides $75,000 for Olympic gold. Not sure what a world title gets you though. Probably around $25,000.
So between those programs, Dressel got 4x(25000 + 7500) = $130,000 probably. This is very speculative because I don’t have all the sources, but doubling his earnings is a nice boost. With the relays he may even clear $300,000.
Gainsville Florida’s cost of living is extremely low. Caeleb is Gainsville rich. Lol. Well deserved.💪
Definitely need to check out the Gainesville Sun’s front page mugshot section. Takes “Florida Man” to a whole new level.
Can they withhold “Sun, Yang China $44,000” until he passes a drug test?
It’s time for more American business’s to step up, give some full time salaries for flex-time schedules and let’s get some real commitments for our team. These amounts, compared to other pro athletes tell us that we need a different approach. Let’s get our men and women after 4 full NCAA years and get them some great jobs at top US 🇺🇸 companies and watch them deliver…..
It is hard for big sponsors to get excited every year when the swimmers publicly say when they don’t swim fast, that only the Olympics every 4 years counts. Some even say that before they swam!
Rip Dressel, 0.18s away from another $60k. Must be the most expensive 0.18s ever
I mean the most obvious refute is NASCAR
Dressel wins $110k for swimming some of the fastest times ever (not to mention breaking a legendary world record) and dominating the international stage for Team USA while a 16-year-old kid wins $3 million because he beat some other kids in a video game about building stuff. Huh. What a world we live in. Seeing that, what are kids going to want to do more? :/
sadly, that’s capitalism. that game has made tons of money in the last two years…
Honestly, I would rather be multiple world champion in swimming than a world champion in a video game. I would still choose to be a swimmer and send my kids to swimming any day. Nothing can replace what you learn in this sport and how it builds your character. Money isn’t everything
Oh, I completely agree! What he did is frankly unbelievable. I mean I use the skills learned from swimming daily in my personal and professional lives. It’s just when a little kid or teenager sees those monetary comparisons, it’s difficult to argue which one is more lucrative. I suppose Fortnite will be more short term though. That won’t stick around for the next 10 (hell, probably 5) years.
Not to say that the winner of that Fortnite competition didn’t grind to get to the level of skill he plays at (which is really crazy you’ve watched it at all), but I mean I would certainly argue swimming is a much healthier hobby to get into that will teach you… Read more »
I understand the economics behind it and everything, and I don’t expect that swimmers will consistently make $30 million/year in the near future.
That being said, it does feel low. I feel like a legendary performance at the biggest stage like Dressel’s should be worth at least 400k — 1/5 of what the winner of 1 out of 4 majors in golf gets.
What would it take: maybe $60,000 per gold, $60,000 per WR, $20,000 per Championship record etc. That would put Dressel at 4×60000 + 60000 + 3×20000 = 360,000 + relays. Two golds and two silvers should be at least 30000 more, which puts us in the ball park.
Why would Anna Hopkin get more than Freya Anderson if both made 1 final and 1 semi final individually, both swam in the medley relay but Anderson got a medal in the mixed medley where Hopkin was uninvolved? Does anyone understand and can explain?
The third arrowed note underneath the article explains why they didn’t include relays in the calculations. So Anna finished ahead of Anderson because she finished 7th in a final compared to 8th for Freya.
Thank you