Olympics-Swimming-Games could become just another meet for swimmers: Biondi

Matt Biondi won 11 Olympic medals, including eight golds, but the American can see a day where the Games are no longer the main event for elite swimmers.

"They see the Olympics as entertainment, as kind of an amusement park, something fun to go to but it’s not their career," California-based Biondi, who won his golds at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Games, told Reuters in a video interview. The 10-member board includes Hungary's Katinka Hosszu, Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands and South African Chad Le Clos - all Olympic gold medallists.

"We’ve heard estimates of how anywhere between 10-15per cent of the Olympic fans put swimming number one. So prior to the pandemic you’ve got an over US$7 billion industry and swimmers can account for at least 10per cent so that’s US$700 million. "If the Olympics had been cancelled, what safety net is there for the athletes? They literally would just be cut loose with no compensation or anything," he said.

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