EXCLUSIVE
Ben Proud admits he ‘selfishly’ joined Enhanced Games for money in brutally honest interview
An Olympic silver medallist has revealed that his decision to take part in the Enhanced Games is selfish and motivated by financial gain.
Ben Proud gave a very candid interview to talkSPORT, where he admitted he wouldn't advise younger athletes to emulate him.
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The 30-year-old became the first British athlete to sign up for the controversial event, which will be held in Las Vegas next year.
Proud, who holds the national record in both the 50m freestyle and butterfly, earned a silver medal in the former event at Paris 2024.
His announcement that he will retire from 'traditional swimming' to pursue the Enhanced Games was slammed by Aquatics GB.
What are the Enhanced Games?
The multi-sport event is the bizarre brainchild of Australian businessman Aron D'Souza, which was first announced in 2023.
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The planned Olympic-style tournament will allow athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without taking drug tests.
Events taking place at the Games, which will take place in Las Vegas in May 2026. include swimming, weightlifting and track and field.
Why has Ben Proud signed up?
The Briton made no apology for his decision during an extensive appearance on talkSPORT's White & Jordan on Thursday.
“Well, it comes at the end of a very long career for me,” Proud said. “I've been doing this sport for the best part of 15 years and committing to myself the best that I can. There's many reasons for this.
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“But essentially, I have a great opportunity to capitalise on the skill that I've developed and really try and secure financial security for myself, my mum, [and] my family.
“And [to] pursue something very, very new that's different from the traditional format.”
Is Ben Proud's credibility ruined?
The world and European champion has previously supported campaigns against the use of banned substances, which included being involved in the UK's Anti-Doping's Clean Sport Week.
Proud admitted: “I accept that public opinion is going to be very polarised. And I'm happy with that.
“A justification was the 15, 20 people who I deemed closest to me, the ones that I love, so long as they can understand me, know what I've been through and know what I'm doing, I can retire a happy man.”
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How much are the Enhanced Games paying athletes?
Organisers have already confirmed that up to $500,000 in prize money will be on offer, with event winners taking home $250,000.
Any competitor who breaks the world record in either the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle will claim an additional $1million bonus.
Asked how much Proud himself is being paid, he told talkSPORT: “I mean, the figures of the competition are out there.
“But to put it simply, it would take me 13 years of winning a world championship title just to get what I get from one competition year.
“And that's almost a minimum. So it would take me many, many years and many, many careers to earn what I can do here.”
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Despite defending his own personal decision, Proud admitted he wouldn't encourage younger athletes to follow in his footsteps.
Asked whether he would sign up for the Enhanced Games at the beginning of his career, he replied: “No, definitely not.
“I mean, this is coming from 10 years of being on the international stage at the very top level. I understand myself.
“I've developed a lot, and I know the decision I'm getting myself in for. The thing is, I'm really content with my career.
“I think I've achieved everything I realistically could, and no stone was left unturned.
“So if I did this at the start of my career, I would have never known or never learnt what I have done to get here.
“I think that was the most important journey to go through. And right now, simply, I'm capitalising on what I could do.”
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Does Ben Proud feel responsible for younger stars copying him?
The long-term damage of the 'Olympics of the future' can't yet be known, with several substances set to be used by athletes banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency code.
Proud was quizzed on whether he has a responsibility outside his own interests with his platform as an Olympic podium-level GB swimmer.
“This has many aspects to it,” he awkwardly responded to the idea of the next generation prioritising his pathway over clean sport.
“What you touched on there with the younger generation, this is a really tough topic because never would I endorse this sort of approach to the younger fans. I know what position I'm in.
“I know it's going to cause a lot of conflict and controversy.”
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Ben Proud: 'This is a selfish decision'
“Then again, you have to realise that this is a selfish decision I'm making for myself,” the 30-year-old Englishman continued.
“But to be clear, there is no obligation for me to take any of these performance enhancers.
“So it's going to be very interesting to get into this and learn a lot about what's available, because the stigma of steroids inducing is a very dangerous world.
“But we're using things that are legal and publicly available through prescription to just better recovery.
“These aren't dangerous things, and I'm not going to put anything dangerous into my body.
“I'm going to make the best-informed decision using the best people out there.”
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Should enhancements be part of sport as long as it's transparent?
Proud has previously claimed that his decision to take part in the Enhanced Games does not undermine clean sport.
“I think clean sport needs to remain clean,” he reaffirmed to talkSPORT's White & Jordan on Thursday.
“I think this world that we understand, the Olympic pathway is something that is very prestigious and it's very it needs to be protected.
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“What I'm doing here is going down a very different entity, a very different pathway that has potential benefits for a much broader audience.
“We're talking about the average gym girl, the average male in society who might want to supplement with something that I don't know about.
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“It might bring a bit more scientific knowledge to these people.
“This is a pathway I'm yet to figure out fully, but I'm kind of excited to go down this route.”