Ben Proud Joins Controversial Enhanced Games for Huge Financial Rewards
Olympic swimmer Ben Proud has made headlines after announcing he will compete in the first-ever Enhanced Games, a highly controversial event that permits athletes to use performance-enhancing substances under medical supervision. His decision has sparked heated debate in the sporting world, but for Proud, it all comes down to one thing: the money.
Speaking to the BBC, Proud explained that the financial rewards being offered are unlike anything he could hope to achieve in traditional sport. He revealed that winning just one race at the Enhanced Games could bring in the equivalent of 13 years of World Championship titles. To put that into perspective, the prize money at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships totaled $2.73 million, with just $20,000 going to each gold medalist. By comparison, the Enhanced Games is offering appearance fees and a $1 million bonus for breaking the world record in the 50m freestyle—the event where Proud has already claimed world and European gold.
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At 30 years old, Proud admitted that retirement has been on his mind for some time. Like many athletes, he has struggled with the reality that a decorated career doesn’t necessarily lead to financial security. He is currently part of Aquatics GB’s World Class Programme, which provides funding of up to £29,000 a year, but in his view, it is not enough to build a future. He stated bluntly that athletes on the Olympic path “don’t earn enough money to retire off the back of this,” and that opportunities like the Enhanced Games simply cannot be ignored at this stage of his career.
Still, the backlash has been fierce. Aquatics GB called his decision “immensely disappointing” and condemned it in the strongest terms. UK Sport has already confirmed it will review his eligibility for public funding. The World Anti-Doping Agency went further, labeling the Enhanced Games a “dangerous and irresponsible project.” Critics say it risks athletes’ health, undermines fair play, and threatens to damage the spirit of sport altogether.
Proud, however, has pushed back. He insists he is under no obligation to take banned substances, stressing that his choices will be guided by medical professionals. He also highlighted a loss of trust in the global anti-doping system, pointing to the scandal in which 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for banned substances yet were still allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. To him, the rules already feel unevenly enforced, which made the Enhanced Games a more logical next step.
Despite his defense, Proud acknowledges the controversy that comes with being the first British athlete to sign up. He knows the decision will divide opinion, but he says his focus is on securing his future and supporting his family. After three Olympics, a world title, and an Olympic silver medal, Proud believes he has reached the peak of what traditional swimming can offer him. Now, he sees the Enhanced Games as a way to extend his career—and to finally earn what he feels his years of dedication deserve.
The inaugural Enhanced Games are set to take place in Las Vegas from May 21–24, 2026, featuring short-distance swimming, sprinting, and weightlifting. Whether this competition represents the future of sport or a dangerous experiment remains to be seen, but Ben Proud has already staked his claim on its biggest stage.
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