Glasgow: Australia’s swimmers at the Commonwealth Games have been warned they are not allowed to thank billionaire benefactor Gina Rinehart during media interviews after the country’s richest person confirmed she would again pay medal bonuses in Glasgow.

This masthead revealed in March that Rinehart, a longtime supporter of Australian swimmers, would continue rewarding members of the Dolphins squad if they performed well at the Commonwealth Games.

Hancock Prospecting confirmed on Thursday that swimmers will receive $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze medals, with an additional $30,000 available for any individual world record. Members of four-person relay teams will receive $5000 for gold, $3750 for silver and $2500 for bronze. Able-bodied and para swimmers are eligible for the same payments, which will be “deposited directly into their accounts within two weeks of the Games concluding”.

The Hancock Prospecting press release included six different quotes from six Australian Olympians across linked stories praising Rinehart. Among them was Olympic silver medallist Elijah Winnington, who described her as “almost like this godmother figure”.

The bonuses are only given to swimmers.

“Private enterprise has an important role to play in backing Australians who work hard, strive for excellence and make our nation proud, and I call on more business leaders to step up and do the same,” Rinehart said in a statement.

But on the eve of competition, a twist emerged as Australian swimmers were explicitly instructed not to thank Rinehart during television interviews or while speaking to accredited media after their races. They have been briefed in recent days.

This masthead has been told by two sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, that several figures inside Dolphins camp were surprised by the directive. It is being enforced by Commonwealth Games Australia, not Swimming Australia.

However, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. This masthead has obtained a copy of the Australian “team membership agreement”, which has been signed by every athlete competing in Glasgow.

Clause 4.8 reads: “As a member of the team … the athlete must not appear in, participate in or permit the athlete’s image to be used for or in connection with (unless approved by CGA in advance): (a) the endorsement, promotion or marketing of any betting or gambling agency, fundraising or reward scheme”.

Clause 4.9 states: “The athlete must not perform or enter into any agreements, arrangements or understandings for: authoring any public or media comment for reward … or any interview for reward”.

The rule is there in part because CGA has major sponsors for the Games, and is not specifically targeted at Rinehart.

Athletes are free to speak positively about Rinehart personally but have been warned against discussing the financial incentives attached to medals.

Some may choose to ignore the edict and publicly thank Rinehart if asked about her financial support, which makes a significant difference in many of their lives.

Commonwealth Games Australia is expected to exercise discretion and not fine or sanction athletes if they do thank Rinehart during interviews.

Rinehart, spotted with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson recently in Italy, is not expected to attend the Commonwealth Games and has not sought tickets through Commonwealth Games Australia.

Australia’s chef de Mission Petria Thomas was asked about Rinehart’s medal bonus scheme earlier before the opening ceremony in Scotland.

“That’s a separate arrangement and that’s something that Commonwealth Games Australia is not involved in,” Thomas said. “Good luck to the swimmers, I guess. They’ve got someone backing that performance, but that is a separate matter for them.

“Commonwealth Games Australia actually gifted every single athlete who made this team $5000 just to help along the way. It’s a small token, but it makes a difference.”

Commonwealth Games Australia issued a statement after Thomas had spoken.

“Australia’s best swimmers have a history of always showing up to the Commonwealth Games and we have seen that again here at Glasgow 2026,” a CGA spokesperson said. “The opportunity to compete in the green and gold is the biggest incentive in making this happen.

“We commend Mrs Rinehart for her support of Australian sport, it is exemplary. The Australian team partner family has committed millions of dollars to deliver our team to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Mrs Rinehart and her companies are not Australian team partners.”

The bonuses from Rinehart are paid directly to athletes, rather than through Swimming Australia.

Shortly after Thomas addressed the media, Australian swimming star Kyle Chalmers and Dolphins head coach Rohan Taylor also fronted reporters.

Asked whether Rinehart’s financial backing was a positive thing, Chalmers said: “I mean, absolutely. I’m not going to say that it’s not a good thing. I’m super grateful to have the support of CGA to get us here, but to be able to have some medal incentive, it gives us a lot more purpose and reason. Very grateful to have supporters. CGA has made this possible. To be able to have some incentive for all of our hard work, I think is crucial for especially us older athletes.”

Taylor also avoided mentioning Rinehart by name when asked for his view.

“First of all, I thank the CGA partners. They’re the ones that really put this event on for us,” Taylor said. “Of course, any other support athletes get, we really appreciate it. Swimmers are greatly appreciative of that, so it’s fantastic.”

Get around our Commonwealth Games coverage

• The Games begin: Glasgow’s opening ceremony recapped
• Great-grandma’s debut: The 75-year-old competing at the Commonwealth Games for the first time
• ‘Like a desperate ex’: How Snapchat helped ignite Lani Pallister’s career
• Must-see: The key highlights to watch for in the pool

Follow our coverage of the Commonwealth Games with live blogs covering every moment of the action from 6pm AEST daily.