Tokyo Olympics: swim great Matt Biondi warns chiefs to embrace professional era
- American says swimming could become like Olympic tennis or football which are viewed like ‘entertainment, as a kind of amusement park’
- ‘If the Olympics had been cancelled, what safety net is there for athletes?’ says Biondi, urging for higher pay
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.
The 55-year-old American says it all depends on the business model and how much world governing body Fina and Olympics organisers are prepared to embrace change and bring swimming into a professional era.
Biondi cited the examples of tennis, golf and football as Olympic sports that have their own showcase events of far greater importance for athletes.
“They see the Olympics as entertainment, as kind of an amusement park, something fun to go to but it’s not their career,” said California-based Biondi, who won his golds at the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Games.
“If the Olympics does not embrace professional swimming it will take time but at some point the swimmers will butter their bread elsewhere and the Olympics will be just another meet on their schedule.
