International Swimming League contacts athletes regarding Season 3 prize money

Since the launch of our first full season in 2019, the ISL has distributed a total of approximately $16.5 million to professional swimmers in the form of salaries, prize money, appearance fees and solidarity payments.

This includes approximately $3.38 million in Season 1 (2019), $10.7 million in Season 2 (2020), and currently $2.45 million for Season 3 (2021).

A significant proportion of this comes from the $7 million allocated by the ISL for our Solidarity Programme, which was a voluntary initiative to support athletes during Covid-19, which is now also fully completed.

Separately, though the League was ultimately unable to arrange our intended inaugural match in 2018, we still honoured our appearance fee agreements and paid swimmers $1.95 million for an event that never happened.

Some individual swimmers also benefited from additional compensation through separate arrangements such as ambassadorial and promotional roles.

The settlement of Season 3 prize money will be added to this total as payments are made.

Furthermore, in a model unique across sport, ISL has also contributed more than $20 million toward athlete-related expenses associated with both preparation for and participation in its events. This investment has supported athletes across several essential areas, including travel, accommodation, training, coaching, medical care, equipment, apparel, Covid-related requirements, wider athlete engagement programmes and social events for our athletes.

The settlement reflects a careful balance between honouring the prize money owed and ensuring the ISL’s return as a sustainable competition. The ISL has been transparent that a single immediate full payment would not allow both the settlement and any relaunch to happen, and that a relaunch is what creates future earning opportunities for the swimming community.

The League is preparing for its return. Further announcements regarding format, venues, and timing will follow in due course.

Athletes have been provided with a dedicated email address in the letter. Any Season 3 athlete who has not received the letter should contact [email protected] so that we can ensure it reaches them.