The dominant Dolphins’ record-breaking Commonwealth Games performance will see the swimmers pocket more than $1.2 million in bonuses from billionaire Gina Rinehart.

Members of the Australian swim team have won 37 gold medal at Glasgow ­– well exceeding their previous highest tally of 28 at the 2018 Gold Coast Games – and 75 medals in total.

Rinehart pledged last week she would pay individual gold medal winners a $20,000, silver medal winners $15,000 and bronze $10,000, with smaller cash incentives for relay events.

In addition, the mining magnate dangled a $30,000 for those who broke world records.

Among the big winners is freestyle champion Lani Pallister, whose three individual gold medals have earned her $80,000 and who was quoted expressing her gratitude for Rinehart’s support in a Hancock Prospecting media release issued ahead of the Games.

Sam Short’s overnight win in the 1500m freestyle saw him score a total $65,000 bonus – after his two earlier freestyle golds in the  400m and 800m, and the 4x200m relay – while Meg Harris’s wins in the 50m freestyle and 4×100 medley relay team brought her gold medal tally to a whopping six, earning her $60,000.

 

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Rinehart, who has said the bonuses will be paid directly into swimmers’ accounts within two weeks of the Games ending, congratulated the Dolphins team members on earning a total of $1,272,500 as the swimming events came to a close.

“Few people, outside of the swimming families, truly understand the years of hard work, discipline and sacrifice required to compete at this international level,” she said on Thursday.

“Yet again, our Aussie swimmers punched well above our population size.”

It was reported previously that members of the swim team were warned by Commonwealth Games Australia not to thank their benefactor during interviews after their races, in line with team guidelines, although freestyle star Kyle Chalmers had acknowledged they were “very lucky” with the level of support they receive compared to some other sports.

Kyle Chalmers snatched the 10th Commonwealth Games gold medal of his career in stunning fashion. Photo: AAP

Chalmers flew to an emotional landmark triumph overnight, winning the 50m butterfly crown and the 10th gold of his Games career. It was his 13th medal in all, propelling him past Ian Thorpe’s all-time Australian men’s record tally of 10 golds and one silver.

Chalmers, whose domestic 100m freestyle reign was ended by defeat to Flynn Southam 24 hours earlier, shared his golden moment with compatriot Ben Armbruster as they both hit the wall together in a Games record 22.73 seconds.

He also downed his fellow big gun and “superdad” Cam McEvoy, who took bronze in yet another Australian 1-2-3 in the pool.

The 28-year-old –­ watched again by his wife, Norwegian swimmer Ingeborg Loyning, as she cradled their baby in the crowd – teased everyone afterwards, suggesting it may not be his Commonwealth Games hurrah after all.

“I might still be hanging around in four or eight years’ time. Who knows? But yeah, realistically, I’m 28 years old,” he smiled.

“I’m not beating these young guys.”

Guys like Armbruster, who’s powering through from the town of Stanthorpe in Queensland.

“There’s no better feeling than to win a gold medal, able to tie for gold with a fellow Australian country boy,” said Chalmers.

“We’re both from remote country towns – and we’ve been able to make it onto the national team and inspire the next generation of country kids coming through.”

Queensland speedster Harris joined the elite band who’ve scooped six golds at a single Games as she led home teammates Alex Perkins and Shayna Jack, in her farewell race, in the 50m freestyle.

Then the 24-year-old anchored the 4×100 medley relay team, featuring Iona Anderson, Sienna Toohey and Perkins – who ended up with five golds and a silver – to victory.

Kai Taylor, son of former teen phenomenon Hayley Lewis, was cheered on by his mum while earning a shock 200m freestyle gold.

His victory from lane one was one of the surprises of the week as the 22-year-old led from the inside “under the radar”, prevailing in 1:45.22 after being on world record schedule.

Brittany Castelluzzo won the 200m fly ahead of bronze medallist Lizzy Dekkers, while Sam Short took the 1500m freestyle for a distance treble as compatriot Ben Goedemans claimed bronze.

Lakeisha Patterson continued the Dolphins’ para domination too as she struck 100m free S9 gold ahead of Emily Beecroft.

Fittingly, the last title of the week went to the Dolphins as the men’s 4×100 relay quartet of Henry Allan, Sam Williamson, Matt Temple and Flynn Southam landed Australia’s eighth victory of the night and their 37th gold in all.

–with AAP