James Magnussen Claims More Athletes will Join Enhanced Games for Financial Reasons
In light of the announcement that the first edition of the Enhanced Games will take place next Memorial Day Weekend, Australian Olympic medalist James Magnussen – one of the faces of the new venture – indicated that additional Australian athletes will soon align with the competition.
Magnussen, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 100 freestyle, noted that athletes in the traditional swimming world do not have the financial opportunities to sustain a comfortable lifestyle. More, he indicated that he has heard from several athletes that they were interested in joining the Enhanced Games.
However, Magnussen’s comments run counter to what Olympic champs Ariarne Titmus and Cam McEvoy have publicly stated. Both Titmus and McEvoy railed against the Enhanced Games, saying that the use of performance-enhancing drugs eliminates any legitimacy associated with a performance.
Titmus and McEvoy have been joined in their criticism of the Enhanced Games by the World Anti-Doping Agency, Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
Still, Magnussen is steadfast that the Enhanced Games will be a success and see additional athletes link up to its controversial approach. His primary focus, it seems, is on the financial aspect of the Enhanced Games.
“The most common response I hear from current athletes is, if this all goes ahead the way we believe it will in the first year, then we’re very interested to join,” Magnussen said. “Because the opportunity to set yourself up for life just isn’t there at the moment in that swimming world. But it’s very clear that opportunity is available with the Enhanced Games.”
