After making over $300,000 on the World Cup Tour this year, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu has made nearly half a million dollars in prize money this year in the short course pool alone. She made $106,000 based on her individual swims this week in Doha, easily leading all athletes.
FINA gives out prize money to the top 6 athletes in each event, plus bonuses for World Records. Here is the prize money system:
- Gold medal: $7000
- Silver: $5000
- Bronze: $3000
- 4th place: $2000
- 5th: $1500
- 6th: $1000
- World Record bonus: $15,000
That big world record bonus means that the 8 individual world record-breakers all place highly in the total money-earners. Hosszu made $60,000 that way for her 4-world record performance.
Second is Mireia Belmonte, who broke 2 world records and went 4-for-4 on individual golds. She earned $58,000, just a tick more than double-world record-setter Sarah Sjostrom ($56,000).
The highest-earning man individually was Florent Manadou, who made $49,000 on his two world records and three individual medals.
The top 10 money-earners based on individual events are below. Ryan Lochte and Kosuke Hagino are the only two to make the top 10 without setting a world record, a testament to their versatility. Lochte, in fact, made $16,000 without earning an individual gold medal, courtesy of two silvers and two bronzes.
Top 10 money-earners:
| Rank | Name | Total Money | World Records: |
| 1 | Katinka Hosszu | $106,000 | 4 |
| 2 | Mireia Belmonte | $58,000 | 2 |
| 3 | Sarah Sjostrom | $56,000 | 2 |
| 4 | Florent Manaudou | $49,000 | 2 |
| 5 | Chad le Clos | $43,000 | 1 |
| 6 | Alia Atkinson | $29,000 | 1 |
| 7 | Markus Deibler | $22,000 | 1 |
| 7 | Etiene Medeiros | $22,000 | 1 |
| 9 | Ryan Lochte | $16,000 | 0 |
| 10 | Kosuke Hagino | $15,500 | 0 |
wpDiscuz
Its heartening to see that even the 3rd or 4th best female swimmer in the world can make so much money from a single meet.
Do they get cash prizes for relays as well?
Swimmer – they do give out cash prizes for relay, in the same amounts for each of the top 6 places. It’s not clear, though, how the total prize is split by the individual swimmers (whether the four finals swimmers split the amount or if they include prelims swimmers and alternates, etc.).
Thank you for the photo. 🙄 I’m still scared.
Well. As I promised, I’ve tried to compile all finals I’ve found from SCM world championships and US Winter Nationals.
Let’s begin with SCM world championships. In the good order.
Men’s 200 free. Winner. Chad Le Clos in 1.41.45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pOhCegz-_8
Women’s 200 fly. Winner. Mireia Belmonte Garcia in 1.59.61. New world record!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT4RtuX8Uoo
Women’s 400 IM. Winner. Mireia Belmonte Garcia in 4.19.86. New world record!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-MmRWv7uRc
Men’s 4X100 free relay. Winner. France in 3.03.78.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCu8gO6LwSc
Women’s 4X200 free relay. Winner. Netherlands in 7.32.85. New world record!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H45z1WhrRM
Men’s 4X50 medley relay. Winner. Brazil in 1.30.51. New world record!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Pb6TGjsIU