Olympic swimmer Hunter Armstrong is set to make waves in the world of sports by competing in the Enhanced Games, a controversial new sporting event that allows the use of performance-enhancing drugs. This decision comes as Armstrong aims to secure a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, despite the potential backlash from the traditional swimming community.
The Enhanced Games, a relatively new organization, have sparked debate within the sports world. While they permit athletes to use substances banned by other sports leagues, the international swimming federation, World Aquatics, is determined to maintain a strict separation between traditional swimming and this new phenomenon. Armstrong's participation in both events could challenge this divide.
In an interview with ESPN, Armstrong, a 25-year-old Ohio native and former world record holder in the 50-meter backstroke, expressed his determination to compete in the Enhanced Games without using banned substances. He believes that adhering to World Aquatics' drug-testing program will ensure his eligibility for future U.S. Olympic teams. However, Armstrong's decision to join the Enhanced Games was not without financial pressures.
Last summer, Armstrong's main sponsor abruptly ended their partnership, leaving him without a steady income. He considered retirement but realized that joining the Enhanced Games was his only viable option to continue his swimming career full-time. Armstrong's words, 'If I don't join Enhanced, I lose everything. If I do join Enhanced, I have a chance at not losing everything,' highlight the dire situation he faced.
The Enhanced Games offer a substantial $250,000 prize for first place in an event, along with a salary and large bonuses for world record-breaking performances. Armstrong plans to compete in the 50-meter backstroke and the 100-meter freestyle events. He had discussions with World Aquatics officials before signing up, but the federation's stance on his eligibility remains uncertain.
World Aquatics' bylaws were recently amended in response to the Enhanced Games, initially interpreted as a full ban on competing in both types of events. However, Armstrong, after consulting with lawyers, believes the ban only applies if he deviates from World Aquatics' rules and drug-testing protocol. The federation's spokesperson, Torin Koos, indicated that eligibility decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis.
This isn't the first time Armstrong has made headlines. He has already competed in the last two Summer Olympics, winning gold medals as part of Team USA's 4x100 relay teams in Tokyo and Paris. His achievements also include holding the world record in the 50-meter backstroke for over a year in 2022 and 2023.
Armstrong is one of several former Olympians and world-record holders who have signed up for the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, scheduled for May 24. The event will feature approximately 40 athletes in swimming, sprinting, and weightlifting. Interestingly, most of these athletes are training in Abu Dhabi this spring, where they will use substances like testosterone, growth hormone, and peptides as part of a clinical trial approved by the United Arab Emirates' Department of Health.
The Enhanced Games, backed by prominent billionaires, aim to push the boundaries of human achievement and provide better resources and compensation to Olympic athletes. However, their business model involves promoting an online marketplace for performance-enhancing drugs, which has raised eyebrows in the sports community. The organization's approach to drug use and its potential impact on fair competition remain subjects of intense debate.
