Olympic gold medalist Hunter Armstrong left the inaugural Enhanced Games with $375,000 in prize money after two podium finishes.
Competing clean, non-enhanced athlete, Armstrong won the men’s 50 backstroke in 24.21 racing in a polyurethane “super suit.” That swim earned him $250,000, though it was about half a second off his American record of 23.71. He returned in the 100 freestyle, finishing 2nd in 48.0 behind Kristian Gkolomeev, who won in 46.6. Armstrong’s lifetime best is 47.59. He added another $125,000, bringing his total Enhanced Games payday to $375,000.
In this GMM takeover of the SwimSwam Podcast, Armstrong joins us for a full debrief on the event, the money, the testing, and whether he plans to continue with the Enhanced Games.
PODCAST TOPICS COVERED:
The end of the podcast might be the most interesting topic. Armstrong reports that eight USA Swimming National Teamers (World Champions and Olympic gold medalists among them) asked how to enter the next Enhanced Games.
Armstrong says he believed the 50 back world record was within reach, but that he held back because he did not have enough experience racing in a super suit. Specifically, he feared a DQ by kicking past the 15-meter mark underwater.
Armstrong says his 48.0 in the 100 free may have been the better swim.
He also reveals that since announcing in March 2026 that he would compete at the Enhanced Games, he has been drug tested 11 times. For context, Armstrong says his previous most-tested year was six tests, and that came in the year he broke a world record. He was also tested at the Enhanced Games event itself.
Armstrong takes listeners behind the scenes of the athlete experience in Las Vegas, describing what he says was a vastly different environment from the traditional World Aquatics experience. He details the “white-glove” treatment athletes received, from food and travel to event management and overall support.
Competing clean, did Armstrong enjoy beating enhanced athletes? His answer is nuanced, but it makes sense.
Armstrong also discusses whether he plans to continue with the Enhanced Games, and if so, why.
Given the number of tests he says he has undergone since announcing his participation, Armstrong weighs in on whether he believes World Aquatics will allow him to race at the 2027 World Championships in Budapest and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The conversation also covers how much financial support Armstrong is receiving beyond his $375,000 in prize money, including salary, expenses, and training support.
Armstrong comments on IOC president Kirsty Coventry’s now widely discussed statement that she does not believe Olympic athletes should be paid. The comment drew criticism from elite athletes who continue to train and compete without meaningful financial security.
Armstrong also reacts to the Enhanced Games’ stated plans to pay athletes more in the future. Enhanced Games CEO Maximilian Martin recently announced a $10 million prize for any athlete who breaks Usain Bolt’s 100m world record at the 2027 Enhanced Games.
In Armstrong’s previous SwimSwam Podcast appearance, he said he would never race enhanced, even after retiring from Olympic sport. We ask him the question again now that he has gone through the training and event experience. This time, his answer is more nuanced. Listen and judge for yourself.
Armstrong also responds to SwimSwam’s coverage of the Enhanced Games, including Editor-in-Chief Braden Keith’s assessment that the debut event was “mostly an infomercial parading as a sporting spectacle,” and that it did not solve the troubled economics of Olympic sports or offer much for the traditional sports world to copy.
The podcast runs just over an hour. If we missed any questions, drop them in the comments. Armstrong will come back with an insider point of view.
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Many thanks to Swimoutlet.com for their 14 year partnership and support of this swimming news and media.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.
I hope he’s smart with his money.
oh, wow, an investor-backed company reimbursed one of its contractors / employees for travel expenses. truly groundbreaking stuff. they *must* be legit
so, what you´re saying is, you didn´t sleep in a cardboard bed eh? Nothing but the best in Paris OG for th athletes. .all sponsors at OG should already be sharing their profits with the athletes who created their profits. .otherwise it IS slavery
That’s the thing about legit good businesses. They understand that they benefit way more when things are win win – rather than being greedy – they pay well. They’re not trying to pay less. They pay what the athletes/employees are worth. That’s how you keep people and attract more good people. That’s how I runny company. If someone is making us a lot of money we make sure they are paid well for that.
Swimswams 100th article on the enhanced games saying the same stuff. Swimswam are #haters and washed. Enhanced games>olympics
Better call Saul
He literally starts the podcast off with an excuse. He sold his soul for these weird billionaires and if he’s allowed to swim clean internationally, and I suspect he will be, he won’t be successful. Officially washed.
Lawyer just called and said he could get Hunter eligible for Trials for $375K.