{"id":488993,"date":"2021-10-06T00:11:05","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T07:11:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=488993"},"modified":"2021-10-06T19:37:44","modified_gmt":"2021-10-07T02:37:44","slug":"queenslands-olympic-gold-medal-factory-facing-shock-funding-cuts-on-the-road-to-brisbane-2032","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/queenslands-olympic-gold-medal-factory-facing-shock-funding-cuts-on-the-road-to-brisbane-2032\/","title":{"rendered":"Queensland’s Olympic Gold Medal Factory Facing Shock Funding Cuts On The Road To Brisbane 2032"},"content":{"rendered":"

Queensland swimmers provided 50 percent of Australia\u2019s total Olympic gold medal haul in Tokyo and now the State\u2019s governing body is facing a shock funding cut that could well threaten the pathway of future champions with their sights set on the 2032 Games in Brisbane.<\/p>\n

Queensland’s leading newspaper The Courier Mail<\/em> has today reported exclusively on the extraordinary revelation that could well threaten the State\u2019s medal factory \u2013 regarded as one of the most successful pathway and development programs in world swimming.<\/p>\n

The paper reported that experienced and respected Swimming Queensland (SQ) chief executive Kevin Hasemann<\/strong> has expressed his extreme disappointment at being told by the Queensland Academy of Sport (that) the governing body\u2019s funding would be slashed in a move he claims is a disturbing portent for Brisbane\u2019s 2032 Olympics.<\/p>\n

Hasemann told the paper SQ has received about $500,000 a year in funding from the QAS since 2015, and while they were expecting the QAS to announce it would actually double its spending on swimming in the State \u2013 much to SQ\u2019s lament \u2013 the extra funds will not flow through their time-honoured and successful system that has bred countless Olympic and world champions.<\/p>\n

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QLD GOLDEN GIRLS: Three Queensland girls Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown and Chelsea Hodges doing it for Australia as they watch another Maroons product Cate Campbell touch the wall for gold in the 4x100m medley relay in Tokyo. Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been notified by the QAS that the level of funding we\u2019ve been receiving from them is about to be cut significantly,\u2019\u2019 Hasemann told the Courier Mail.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Swimming Queensland formula has proven to be an unqualified success, evidenced by the outstanding performance of Queensland swimmers at the Tokyo Olympics, where, if a nation, Queensland would have finished a clear second on the medal table.<\/p>\n

\u201cCutting back now can only be to the detriment of Australia\u2019s high ambitions for the 2032 home Games.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the past six Olympics \u2013 from Sydney 2000 to this year\u2019s Tokyo Games \u2013 54 Queensland swimmers have won 151 Olympic medals. During the same period Australia\u2019s entire track and field team have won 19 medals.<\/p>\n

It is understood the QAS will announce a new funding model to be redirected more into high performance in the build-up to the 2032 Games.<\/p>\n

The move follows the appointment of Chelsea Warr<\/strong> last year as the replacement for long-serving QAS chief executive Bennett King <\/strong>who SQ regarded as one of their most loyal supporters.<\/p>\n

Warr, formerly a performance director for UK Sport, was credited as a key figure behind Great Britain\u2019s surge up the medal tally in the London (2012) and Rio (2016) Games.<\/p>\n

She did not immediately respond to interview requests from News Corp.<\/p>\n

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Queensland\u2019s Class of 2021 Thriving On The Spirit And Competitiveness Of Three Of The State\u2019s Olympic Golden Girls<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n