Nine-time Olympic medallist Kyle Chalmers has called on World Aquatics to deliver greater prizemoney for athletes and says he would not begrudge Australian swimmers following James Magnussen to the Enhanced Games once they have retired from international competition.
Speaking ahead of the Australian swimming trials in Adelaide, Chalmers was quizzed about Magnussen’s controversial association with the Enhanced Games ahead of next year’s event in Las Vegas.
Magnussen took performance-enhancing drugs in a bid to win a US $1 million prize (AUD $1.54 million) for going under the men’s 50m freestyle world record. That was ultimately taken by Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev, who has said the money would be life-changing.
Enhanced Games organisers say they also want clean athletes to compete against those who dope.
“James is one of my really great mates, so I’m definitely not going to knock him for going across there,” Chalmers said.
“Something that’s hard in our sport is there’s not a huge amount of money or prizemoney on offer and we kind of do it for the love of it.
Kyle Chalmers competing at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Credit: Getty Images
“I’m not going to be a person that slams swimmers for wanting to go across and make some money and give themselves a better opportunity of life or set their families up. If they want to make that choice, then good on them.
“They’re actively saying that they’re retired and that’s what they want to do, which is great. I don’t have any negativity towards that or James.”
World Aquatics has threatened to ban current athletes who associate with the Enhanced Games or try to compete at next year’s event in Las Vegas, even if they don’t take performance-enhancing drugs.
Enhanced Games boss Aron D’Souza has offered to pay the legal fees of swimmers who want to challenge World Aquatics’ ruling.
Enhanced Games co-founders Dr Aron D’Souza and Christian Angermayer.Credit: Enhanced Games
World Aquatics will pay swimmers US $20,000 (AUD $30,000) for each gold medal at next month’s world championships in Singapore. There is also a world record bonus of US $30,000 (AUD $46,200). The total swimming prize pool is $4.2 million.
The Enhanced Games will pay US $250,000 for each gold medal, plus a US $1 million bonus for world records in either the 50m freestyle or 100m sprint.
“I think it’d be pretty enticing for quite a lot of athletes,” Chalmers said.
“I think that swimmers have been underpaid for a very long time at the big competitions. I’ve never thought about it a huge amount because you do it for the love of swimming … there’s not a lot of money to be made in it.
Kyle Chalmers and James Magnussen at the 2016 Olympics.Credit: AP
“Look at the guy that did break the world record and his wife coming out and saying he’s been to four Olympics, been in two Olympic finals, been in the world championship final consistently … [the fact] he goes from making $5000 a year to a million in one race is incredible.
“I really hope that there is a shift and that we are able to get a little bit more prize money for what we do. It’s threatening World Aquatics a little bit.
“That’s why they’ve come out and said that they’re banning swimmers, which yeah, fair enough. But also, those swimmers have come out and announced their retirement.”
Australian head coach Rohan Taylor added: “I’m just focused on this team … and providing the right environment for them; a safe, clean sport. That’s what we’re about. I’m not really paying attention [to it].”
Chalmers has been in great form since taking 12 weeks off after the Olympics, clocking a 100m freestyle time of 47.27 seconds at the Bergen Swim Festival in Norway in April. It was faster than his silver medal-winning performance in Paris (47.48).
The 26-year-old is eyeing off a fourth Olympics in LA in 2028 and preparing for the birth of his first child later this year.
“It was a massive shock for me [the time of 47.27]. I’m pretty confident that I’m swimming fast,” said Chalmers, who won 100m freestyle gold at the 2023 world championships. “This could be the year, which is really exciting.
“Our goal is to be at the Olympics in 2028 together and have our daughter in the stands watching us.
“I truly believe it’s achievable. If I didn’t believe it was possible, I would have retired. I’m at nine Olympic medals. It would be amazing to get to 10.”
Taylor said of Chalmers’ swim: “It made my day when I saw that. I was very happy for him.”
The men’s 400m freestyle (Sam Short, Elijah Winnington) and women’s 50m backstroke (Kaylee McKeown) will headline night one of the Australian swimming trials in Adelaide on Monday.
The Australian swimming trials in Adelaide will be shown live and exclusively on Channel 9 and 9Now from June 9-14.
