Ben Proud, a Team GB Olympic silver medalist, has announced his retirement from traditional swimming to compete in the Enhanced Games, an event scheduled for May 2026. The Enhanced Games, initiated by Australian businessman Aron D’Souza, will permit athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without the risk of drug testing, a departure from conventional sporting regulations.
Proud, 30, achieved his first Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Games, where he secured silver in the 50-metre freestyle. His impressive track record includes a gold medal at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships and a world championship title earned in 2017 in the same event. He has also triumphed multiple times at the Commonwealth Games.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Proud expressed his desire for change, stating, “It’s time for a shift. I will be retiring from traditional swimming to compete in the Enhanced Games.” He emphasized the opportunity to explore the limits of human potential, adding, “Stepping into a framework that challenges everything we know about performance…”
The inaugural Enhanced Games has sparked controversy within the sporting community. The UK Anti-Doping agency has voiced strong opposition to the concept, insisting on its mission “to protect sport from doping cheats.” The agency reiterated that there is “no place in sport for performance-enhancing drugs, nor the Enhanced Games.”
Several high-profile athletes have also announced their participation in the Enhanced Games, including Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev, Ukrainian swimmer Andriy Govorov, and Bulgarian swimmer Josif Miladinov, a European silver medalist in the 100m butterfly. Former world champion James Magnussen has come out of retirement to join this new venture.
Critics, including World Athletics president Lord Coe, have denounced the initiative. Coe previously described participation in the Enhanced Games as “moronic,” warning that any athlete who competes could face a “lengthy ban.”
The Enhanced Games have gained financial backing from a venture capital fund that includes notable figures such as Donald Trump Jr. and billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel. As the sporting world watches closely, Proud’s decision to shift gears highlights a significant moment in the evolution of competitive athletics.
