Sky News host Peta Credlin has praised billionaire Gina Rinehart for her contribution to Australian sport through her multi-million-dollar fund to dozens of the nation’s athletes, playing a major role in their Olympic success.
The Paris Olympics has seen Australia take out 18 Gold Medals across swimming, cycling, canoe and kayak, BMX racing, tennis, skateboarding, sailing and athletics.
Almost half of the record haul has come from Australia’s adored swimmers and stands in contrast to the 2012 London Olympics where the team secured only one Gold Medal.
But in the more than a decade since, funding for swimming, rowing, volleyball and artistic swimming has boomed thanks to Ms Rinehart.
Ms Rinehart has poured an estimated $10 million each year into those disciplines in a bid to resurrect Australia’s standing on the global stage.
Ms Credlin on Thursday praised the “extraordinary Australian” for her contribution as Australia sees its most successful Olympics ever.
“It is hard to credit but at the London Olympics in 2012, our swimming team hit rock-bottom with Australia coming home with just one gold medal for the whole competition,” Ms Credlin said.
“And that’s when, through her foundation and business, Hancock Prospecting, Mrs Rinehart became the godmother of a sorts to Australian sport.”
Gina Rinehart hosts athletes on a boat for dinner on the Seine River in Paris after completing competition. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Adam Head
Ms Credlin commended how Ms Rinehart chose to support athletes directly as opposed to bankrolling sporting organisations or funding a “bloated head office structure”.
“Her millions go to the individuals themselves so that they can pay their rent and do the training needed to make it on the world stage,” she said.
“As someone who has loved watching Australians do so well in Paris, I’m as grateful as the athletes are, that Gina Rinehart is a patriot who’s chosen to back our Olympians. Good on her.”
Ms Rinehart’s generous offerings have not gone unnoticed, with Olympic swimming great Cate Campbell telling The Australian Ms Rinehart had “saved” the sport.
“Gina came on board in 2012, which was a difficult time for swimming, and without being melodramatic, I believe that she has saved the sport,” Ms Campbell said.
When asked why she supported the Olympians, Ms Rinehart told the publication it was “a positive win win”.
“Hard working, inspiring role models, representing our nation at their patriotic best, making Aussies across our country happy and proud,” she said.
“So, my answer is, ‘why not!'”
