Cate Campbell staring down huge payday at World Cup finale

Australia's Cate Campbell is within reach of a huge pay cheque after remaining on top of the women's rankings in swimming's lucrative World Cup series with just one leg left.

The former world champion leads the women's standings with 300 points ahead of Hungary's "Iron Lady" Katinka Hosszu (276pts) heading into the Cup circuit's finale in Doha beginning Thursday.

Cate Campbell stands to bank $300,000 if she can keep up her hot form in Qatar this week.Credit:AP

Remarkably, Campbell is in reach of a cheque of at least $300,000 (all figures AUD) if she maintains her winning ways in Qatar.

Former world record holder Campbell kept her top billing by claiming the 100m freestyle final in 52.76 seconds in the Cup's second last leg in Kazan, Russia last weekend ahead of Sweden's Michelle Coleman (53.04) and her younger sister Bronte Campbell (53.08).

Campbell has now broken the 53-second barrier over the distance a record 44 times, including 10 times this year alone.

The women's overall winner of the final two Cup rounds – called a cluster – in Kazan and Doha – will receive $72,555.

And if Campbell emerges as the women's No.1 for the entire Cup series which is contested in a 50m pool, the 27-year-old triple Olympian will claim $218,000.

There is also $146,000 for the overall runner-up and $73,000 for third.

Campbell is already buzzing after winning the last Cup cluster in October, snapping up $72,555 in prize money.

Cash prizes in individual World Cup events are also on offer with $2200, $1450 and $725 handed out to the top three placegetters respectively.

Campbell will also get a share of any relay earnings with $4353, $2900 and $1450 awarded respectively to teams on the podium.

Then there is the International Swimming League where she has already earned $23,500 over just two legs of the 25m, short course competition.

She is expected to earn more than $11,500 at the next leg in London from November 23-24 competing for her team London Roar.

And if they make the final at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino from December 20-21 – which features the top two European and US teams – $14,500 goes to each swimmer for the winning outfit.

Either way, Campbell will be having no complaints with all ISL swimmers on a salary with each 24-strong team sharing $218,000 and receiving five star accommodation and business class travel.

The ISL is the brain child of Ukrainian billionaire Konstantin Grigorishin who has budgeted $29 million for the inaugural season with $10.1 million going to athletes in prize money over seven legs.

More than 100 Olympians are represented in the ISL, including 41 gold medallists from the 2016 Games.

AAP

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