- Former Australian Olympic swimmer seeking $1.5 million salary
- ‘Missile’ has agreed to participate in the 2025 Enhanced Games
- The decision shocked other athletes, condemned by many
Former Australian Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has a message for critics of the Enhanced Games – they’re taking place in 2025 and he’s more than happy to headline the event.
Magnussen, 32, recently attracted global headlines after declaring that he will begin a performance-enhancing supplement program in his quest to break the old 50-meter freestyle world record.
If successful, the Olympic silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics will receive $1.5 million from Aron D’Souza, the founder of the Enhanced Games.
The man nicknamed ‘The Missile’ already has plenty of detractors, notably AFL legend Adam Cooney and NRL great Martin Lang, but in a recent podcast with Hello Sport, Magnussen revealed his phone is ‘exploding’ in terms of interested parties.
“I didn’t think it would be a (huge) global story like it has been… (clearly) people want this to happen,” he said.
Former Australian Olympic swimmer James Magnussen had a message for critics of the Enhanced Games: They’re taking place in 2025 and he’s happy to be the event’s poster child.
Magnussen, 32, recently attracted global headlines after declaring that he will begin a performance-enhancing supplement program in his quest to break the 50m freestyle world record at the Enhanced Games in 2025.
‘It’s a sideshow, pure entertainment, I know.
“All I can say is (at this stage) that things have developed very quickly… everyone is talking about it, and I think we will see the (enhanced) Games start in the middle of next year (2025).” .
He also told Hello Sport co-hosts Tom Birmingham and Eddy Simpson that he is happy to “juice his guts” as he chases a life-changing payday.
On Thursday, Magnussen, who is a regular co-presenter on SEN Radio in Sydney, revealed that several former and current swimming stars support his decision to compete at the Enhanced Games.
“Surprisingly, all the feedback from other swimmers has been super positive,” Magnussen said.
‘Let’s say you’re currently a swimmer and you’re going to the Olympics this year, you’re competing to win a gold medal, you can win 20, 30 grand and this is the pinnacle of the sport.
‘It’s very difficult to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games, believe me, I know that as well as anyone.
‘You’re competing for 20, 30 grand. I’m sitting here and I’m about to compete for $1.6 million.
At the Enhanced Games, steroid use by athletes is not only permitted, but actively encouraged.
The great Australian swimmer says he will “juice his guts out” and then look to break the 50m world record held by Brazilian César Cielo.
“It doesn’t seem fair, does it?”
Magnussen is the only current big star to join the rebel startup competition, but he believes more athletes will join in due time.
“Not yet, I think that once there are dates and everything is formalized we will see an avalanche of athletes,” he added.
His career best time in the 50 m freestyle was 21.52, at the 2013 Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide.
And in what looms as a potential body blow, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced this week that athletes participating in the Enhanced Games like Magnussen would be in danger of committing anti-doping rule violations.
WADA also called Enhanced Games “a dangerous and irresponsible concept.”