New pro league looking to make a splash on two continents
LONDON — A new professional league launching this year will reward clean swimmers and see more of them make millions for their efforts, Britain’s Olympic and world breaststroke champion Adam Peaty said on Thursday.
The International Swimming League (ISL), backed by Ukrainian energy businessman Konstantin Grigorishin, will feature eight teams from Europe and the United States, with matches on both sides of the Atlantic.
The final is scheduled for Las Vegas in December.
Grigorishin said the top swimmer on the winning team could earn around $120,000 a year in appearance and prize money — less than a Premier League soccer player might make in a week, but substantial for most in the sport.
Peaty, who was announced as an ISL ambassador and member of a planned London team that also includes Australian Olympic champions Cate and Bronte Campbell and Kyle Chalmers, said he has high hopes for the venture.
He expects the ISL to raise the sport’s profile globally and make an impact on earnings for those not in the same bracket as now-retired 23 time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps of the US.
“If you top that onto all the other prize money (from other events) and sponsors then, if you’re lucky enough, you’re looking at potentially millions,” the 24-year-old said. “For a swimmer that is a ridiculous amount.
“The bigger your image and the more marketable you are, the more money you will earn. And that’s exactly what the sport needs to do.
“We need to build that kind of image and profile, and without TV and only relying on Olympics and world championships every two or four years, you’re not going to get that.”
‘Dawn of a new age’
The ISL tried to hold an event last year in Turin but it was canceled after world governing body FINA said it was ‘non-approved’.
FINA then acknowledged in January that athletes were free to compete in events staged by independent organizers.
The world body has also announced a new team event to start this year, the Champions Swim Series, with a reported $3.9 million in prize money.
Grigorishin said the ISL has an initial budget of $20 million, with a third of that going to athletes and teams in prize money.
The Ukrainian is bankrolling the venture but hopes to break even next year when the league will expand to six teams from North America and six teams from Europe.
“It’s the dawn of a new age for many sports, not just swimming,” said Peaty.
“Athletes are waking up to their rights, their value. They know how much they are respected and they have leverage.
“As soon as athletes realize they have the leverage, all sports can change for the better.”
Grigorishin said there could ultimately be franchises in Asia.
“It’s better to start with two big markets where we understand the legal system, where logistics is easy,” he said.
“We have an interest from Australian teams, but Australia in terms of logistics is terrible. It’s better to invite Australians to compete for European and American teams.”
Anyone who has previously tested positive for doping will be barred from entry, unlike in FINA-run competitions.
The International Olympic Committee has tried to implement lifetime bans for proven dopers but that has been prevented by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Peaty said the no dopers policy means ISL meets could be the cleanest international events of his career to date.
“I think this is the only way to win against doping,” said Grigorishin.
“You have to be very strict and athletes have to understand the real risk. It’s not a three-month suspension or a one-year suspension. It’s for life.”