EXCLUSIVE | “What if this becomes the future?“ Why Magnussen is putting it all on the line for Enhanced Games
James Magnussen will use performance-enhancing drugs to compete in the Enhanced Games and chase the world record in the 50-metre freestyle and a USD$1 million windfall.
Enhanced Games president Aron D’Souza came to the party in offering Magnussen the life-changing money – provided he breaks the record - stating he believes professional athletes should be paid more.
The Games have no drug testing and boast the motto: “It’s time to safely celebrate science.” It has the backing of several well-known investors.
SEN EXCLUSIVE | @james_maggie91 agrees to compete in the @enhanced_games after founder agrees to a $1 million prize if he breaks a world record. #EnhancedGames pic.twitter.com/JBZanQtcLn
— Vossy & Brandy SEN 1170AM Sydney (@VossyBrandySEN) February 8, 2024
Speaking exclusively to SEN 1170 in the midst of what Magnussen acknowledges has been a “crazy day”, the 32-year-old detailed why he’s taken up what he admits is a “calculated risk”.
Magnussen says he’s going to test the science not just for money, but to document the journey for all to see and prove the difference between performance enhancing athletes and regular athletes.
“Most people, all they’ll talk about will be the negatives. What could happen, what could go wrong, what about your reputation, what about the kids who are looking up to you as a hero?" he began.
“No one talks about the opportunities. What about if this is a new avenue for athletes, what about if this is a new earning potential, what about if this means you don’t have to retire as a 27-year-old like I did, you could compete well into your 30s.
“What about if I document this, if I do this perfectly, scientifically, medically, mentally, if I do this perfectly and we document it and we release this documentary and it shows no ill-side effects, no lack of ability to have children, no mental, physical or any sort of side effects, what if this becomes a future opportunity for athletes around the world?
“Am I endorsing it right now as an opportunity for any athlete? No. Absolutely not… this sits separate to my swimming career.”
Magnussen gives himself “about a 70 per cent chance” of breaking the record.
He’ll follow the best medical advice throughout the process and also foreshadowed going overseas in pursuit of cutting-edge science.
“I’ll be monitoring the whole thing medically with the best professionals in the world step by step so if at any stage my signs of fertility are reducing, I’m starting to see liver or kidney damage, any side effects, then we stop,” he said.
“If there are other avenues, I’m open to talking about different opportunities and avenues, but health and safety comes first.
“For me, this is a measured risk based on the financial reward waiting at the end of it.
He added: “Just to be clear, I think there have been at least half a dozen Australian 50m freestylers that could break this record under these circumstances.”
While the 100-metre freestyle was Magnussen’s signature event, he also spoke on why he had opted for half the difference. He’ll need to slice about half a second off his 50-metre time to break the world record.
“I’ve never trained solely for a 50m freestyle. I think at my peak I was ranked maybe top three or four for 50m freestyle but never trained for it, it was like a sideshow to the 100m freestyle for me personally,” he said.
“100m freestyle in an Olympic Games or World Championship is the blue ribbon event. In an Enhanced Games… maybe the 50m freestyle is more of the blue-chip race because of the ability to improve performance with different supplementation.
“At my age, at my weight, at the point I’m at in my former career, 50m freestyle is far more realistic than 100 metres... I’m more confident in swimming fast in that event. ”
Magnussen further detailed his reasoning via the Herald Sun:
It will show the world the difference performance enhancing drugs can make to an athlete if a 32-year-old can swim faster than he did at 20 when he was world champion.
To do it safely and to document it for the world to see so that future athletes know how the process works and can approach science with their eyes wide open.
Entertainment. Sport is an entertainment business - so how fast can someone go? What speeds can someone swim with the addition of a supersuit and whatever supplementation is out there. The 50m freestyle record of 20.91 was set in 2009 with a supersuit. Nobody has ever broken 21 seconds without those suits. World champion Cameron McEvoy won a world title last year in 21.06s. My best time is 21.52s.