Olympic silver medalist James Magnussen has quickly become the poster boy of the planned Enhanced Games doping competition, and that isn't doing much for his reputation.
Magnussen, 33, was one of the world's best swimming freestylers at the peak of his career and has three world championship gold medals and three Olympic medals in his collection.
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The man known as “The Missile” has also had his fair share of controversy, including an infamous Stilnox bonding episode and harassment allegations at the 2012 London Games.
The New South Welshman controversy reached a whole new level in February this year when Magnussen became the first recognized athlete to publicly declare his intention to compete in the Enhanced Games, a competition that actively promotes doping.
To date, he remains the only athlete to have made such a statement, and it was met with ridicule at a sports summit in Birmingham this week, The Australian reported.
“My honest opinion: If you participate in this activity, you should never play any sport again,” said Brent Nowicki, head of World Aquatics.
James Magnussen and members of the Australian swimming team. Photos: AAP/AFPSource: AAP
“Once you cross that bridge, there’s no turning back.”
Another sports official commented: “Who will be in the pool to face Magnussen? You can’t have a one race.”
The Enhanced Games are scheduled to take place in 2025 and reportedly expect more athletes to sign up after this year's Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, Magnussen, who is seeking $1 million in prize money if he can break the 50-meter freestyle world record in a competition called the “Steroid Games,” has become the main spokesman for the maligned competition.
“Hello mate, James Magnussen is here and I've got some pretty exciting news to share with you,” says Magnussen in a rather embarrassing pitch on Enhanced Games' social channels, which you can see in the video player above.
“The Enhanced Games are not just another sporting event, it is a revolution.
“A chance for athletes like you and me to push our limits, break barriers and rewrite the history books.
Men's 4x100m bronze medalists (left to right) Christian Sprenger, James Magnussen, Matt Targett and Hayden Stoeckel at the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“The Enhanced Games looks for athletes who are not afraid to push the limits and redefine what it means to be a competitor.”
The concept is supported by prominent and extremely wealthy actors: legendary director Ridley Scott and US TV star Rob McElhenney produced a documentary about the games.
Australian businessman Aron D'Souza and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel are also important supporters of the project.
They are looking for 10 athletes to participate, each receiving $150,000.
“I've been through a lot,” Magnussen continued in the post, which called him an “Olympic swimming hero.”
“I have competed on the biggest stages and represented my country at the Olympics.
“I have experienced both victory and defeat, but this is different. I need more of my fellow athletes to participate in the documentary that tells our story as we train for and compete in the Enhanced Games.
Enhanced Games co-founder Christian Angermayer (right) with Aron D'Souza. InstagramSource: Supplied
“So what are you waiting for? Dust off your running shoes, grab your gear, record your application and post it to your social networks.
“Join me on this incredible journey. Together we will show the world what it means to be an athlete, a true champion.”
The pitch received a fairly predictable response on social media.
“The word ‘hero’ does a lot of work here,” read one reply on X, formerly Twitter.
“Can I “improve” my performance by adding a few more limbs? asked another.
“Has Magnussen recently saved a life? Or is he simply suffering from relevance deprivation syndrome?” asked a third.
“What a disgraceful scam,” another said bluntly.
Magnussen's personal best in the 50m freestyle is 21.52, set in 2013, while the world record is 20.91, set by Brazilian Cesar Cielo in 2009.
“They said they have a billion-dollar person supporting them,” Magnussen said in February.
“If they raise a million dollars for the 50 freestyle world record, I will be the first athlete on board.
“I’m going to juice to the gills and within six months I’m going to break it.”
Nowicki expressed deep concern about the project.
“It will give someone who is thinking about doping a reason, or possibly a reason, who can say: look, it's safe now, James did it,” he said.
“Or hey, maybe there’s a way to do it with this new technology.
“Look, they have their personal reasons and he is entitled to his opinion and the reasons why he does things.
“I think it is extremely short-sighted to tell me that one of the primary reasons for this is science and evidence of impact.”
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