Olympic great Ariarne Titmus has slammed the Enhanced Games and new 50m freestyle “world record holder” Kristian Gkolomeev, saying no amount of money – not even $10 million – would tempt her to take performance-enhancing drugs or associate with the controversial event.
“I’ve probably not been fired up about something for a long time, [but I am] given the light it’s been in this week,” Titmus said after signing on as an expert commentator for Channel Nine at next month’s Australian swimming trials in Adelaide, starting on June 9.
“I’ve never been motivated by money. If they offered me $10 million, I would never put my body through that.
“I’ve got a pretty strong stance on this. I’m not afraid to speak out on it. It doesn’t sit well with me morally.”
The sporting world was rocked this week by confirmation that the Enhanced Games – a breakaway event founded by Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza – will take place in Las Vegas next May.
Athletes are encouraged to take performance-enhancing substances, under medical supervision, and compete against each other in swimming, athletics and weightlifting events.
James Magnussen ahead of his world record attempt.Credit: Enhanced Games
Major prizemoney is on offer: $US250,000 ($387,500) for a gold medal and $1.55 million if a world record is broken. Clean athletes have also been invited to take part.
Among the headliners is Australian Olympian James Magnussen, who has openly admitted to using testosterone and a cocktail of peptides in pursuit of the 50m freestyle world record.
Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev, who recorded a time of 20.89 seconds behind closed doors in the US – fractionally below Cesar Cielo’s 2009 mark of 20.91 – is also locked in for the event. Gkolomeev’s time, however, was achieved using banned substances and a non-compliant supersuit, meaning it will not be officially recognised.
Titmus said it was a slap in the face to Australia’s Cam McEvoy, the reigning 50m freestyle Olympic champion.
Ariarne Titmus has signed with Channel Nine as a commentator for next month’s Australian swimming trials in Adelaide, running from June 9 to 14.Credit: Channel Nine
“You’ve done it by cheating,” Titmus said. “You haven’t done it by skills and smarts and trying to revolutionise the sport with training techniques.
“You’re not a world record holder. It doesn’t count when you’re doing it with drugs and an illegal suit. It’s irrelevant in the scheme of things. So I hope that people will continue to support us as athletes more than giving this any light.
“I really feel for Cam. He has changed the way we can train for sprint freestyle. I’d be really disappointed [if I was] him around what’s happened with this athlete [Gkolomeev] coming out and trying to claim he’s the fastest swimmer in history.”
A staunch advocate for clean sport, Titmus said she hoped the money on offer would not lure athletes away.
James Magnussen is injected with performance-enhancing drugs. Credit: Enhanced Games
“I’d never be associated with the Enhanced Games,” Titmus said. “I would never, ever be enticed to jump over and give it a crack for money. That’s not why I’ve ever competed.
“I’d like to think that a lot of Olympic athletes don’t compete in their sport for the money. Olympic sport is about passion and pride. We definitely don’t earn the money that say golfers and basketball players and soccer players make. So potentially, it could be enticing to some people, but I just would never, never put my body through that.
“Taking performance-enhancing drugs excessively, we don’t know the extent of what it can do to your body long-term. I don’t know whether I’d risk putting my body through that for money.
“If you break them [a world record] at a world championships you get about $30,000. That’s not why we swim fast. We swim fast because we love it and have passion for our sport.
“What sort of example is this setting for young kids coming through?”
Kristian Gkolomeev and James Magnussen training in the USA.Credit: Enhanced Games
Magnussen has said he believes more Australians will follow his lead and compete at the Enhanced Games.
“I don’t think so,” Titmus said. “I don’t know any of the swimmers in this country that would do it. You take pride in the work you put in. We’re so proud to represent our country.
“Maybe if some athletes are driven by that money, [they might] put on a suit and see how fast you can go, maybe some athletes would. But I wouldn’t think too many.”
Titmus has taken a break from swimming since winning two gold and two silver medals at the Paris Olympics. She expects to return to training in the next few months but has ruled herself out of this year’s world championships in Singapore, starting on July 27. She expects to be back at her best by 2027.
Next month’s national trials in Adelaide will feature McEvoy, Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan and Kyle Chalmers, among others.
Channel Nine’s commentary team for the trials also includes Ian Thorpe, Giaan Rooney, Cate Campbell, Ellie Cole, Mat Thompson, James Bracey and Brenton Speed.
“It’s really exciting to be on the commentary team for trials,” Titmus said.
“I’ve done a bit of work with Nine over the years and during my break from swimming. I’ve worked on the tennis and had a presence as a host on Wide World of Sports.
“I’ll be doing a bit of everything; some presenting, commentary, athlete interviews. It’s going to feel strange being on the other side of things. I’m actually feeling quite blissful knowing that I’m not having to race in a couple of weeks. Trials is very high stakes.
“I believe there’ll be a few dark horses at trials, which is always exciting.”
The Australian swimming trials in Adelaide will be shown exclusively on Channel 9 and 9Now from June 9-14.
