On Tuesday, Aquatics GB announced they are cutting all funding to Olympic medalist Ben Proud following his decision to compete in the Enhanced Games.
The organization wrote in its public statement:
“Following the decision by Ben Proud to sign an agreement with the Enhanced Games, Aquatics GB confirms that Ben is no longer in receipt of any public-funded monies or services provided by Aquatics GB. We would like to make it clear that Aquatics GB stands behind the true values of clean sport and any entity that does not uphold this ideal has no credibility in competitive sport.”
This follows up Aquatic GB’s original statement, in which it said it was “immensely disappointed” in his decision and reaffirmed its commitment to the values of clean sport:
“Aquatics GB is immensely disappointed in Ben Proud’s announcement to sign with the Enhanced Games. Aquatics GB, along with our partners, stand firmly behind the values and principles of clean sport and condemns Ben’s decision in the strongest terms. A further statement will be issued in due course.”
While it’s unclear exactly how much Aquatics GB was compensating Proud, he stated late last week that it would take him “13 years of winning a World Championship title” to earn what’s available at the Enhanced Games ($500,000 for event wins, $1 million for world records), factoring in all his traditional swimming-related income streams.
“There’s a huge financial incentive with this, and I would be lying if I said it didn’t matter,” Proud told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It’s just such a different ballpark financially – it gives me the opportunity to earn that sort of money and setting myself up, my family, and supporting my mum. These are opportunities as a 30-year-old I just can’t pass by.”
The 30-year-old Proud has had a storied career ever since he broke onto the international scene at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where he claimed double gold in the 50 fly and 50 free. He went on to defend his title in the 50 free at the 2018 Games, though he was disqualified in the 50 fly.
At the world level, he won 50 fly gold in 2017 and 50 free gold in 2022, in addition to capturing bronze in the 50 free in 2017, 2023, and 2024.
His 50 free victory in 2022 made history as he secured the long course World Championship, European Championship, and Commonwealth Games titles in the men’s 50 free, becoming the first swimmer to hold all three titles in the same event in the same year. The events aren’t typically held in the same year but were in 2022 due to unique post-COVID circumstances. When he won the European title in August, he also held the short course world title in the event, having captured it in December 2021.
Most recently, Proud won silver in the men’s 50 free at the 2025 World Championships, clocking 21.26 in the final. He also placed fifth in the 50 fly (22.79).
On the Olympic stage, he claimed silver in the 50 free last July behind Australian Cameron McEvoy. Proud had placed fourth in the 50 free at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and finished fifth in Tokyo in 2021.
Proud is the latest accomplished swimmer to sign on with the Enhanced Games, joining male sprinters Kristian Gkolomeev, James Magnussen, Andrii Govorov and Josif Miladinov, while American Megan Romano became the first female to join the organization in early August.
Go secure that bag, Ben! In this life you’ve got to put yourself first—because ten years from now, the people dropping negative comments won’t be the ones helping you pay your bills.
I’m waiting for the day Cody Miller goes live with his decision that he’s partaking in it. (Clean) I’m guessing.
If the enhanced games finances remain strong then it’s the future of sport.
Money talks
So they cut like $30k a year in exchange for him making millions? Yea tough choice there
Cody will always do what’s best for Cody. Never found a product he didn’t want to shill. Just start repping banned $upplements already
Go make your money Ben. It’s your life you can do what you want. Very few have walked in your shoes and would do way worse things for a million dollars.
Seriously these self righteous people in the comments , and as if any of these guys are “clean” to begin with is hilarious . The enhanced games is pretty much gonna fail or be epic . Super fueled up athletes let’s see how far and fast they can go it’s their bodies and effects NOBODY else but them .
Some swimmers are clean just so you know. Trust me.
In fact, they spend their life being very very careful not too ingest anything that could be contaminated.
All of this “international hand-wringing” just strikes me as more pearl-clutching by administrators who have shown their own deeply vested interests in deep-sixing the Enhanced Games. Ben Proud has made a calculated, honest, financial decision and accepts the consequences. I wish the “swimming establishment” would show the same level of maturity, grace, and acceptance of the situation which Mr. Proud has clearly done. PS: And given the photo above, I think he’s well suited to do well under the medical protocol of the Enhanced Games to win a lot of prize money. I hope he stays healthy for a very long time. Good luck to an outstanding athlete!
Firstly just having fun with the user name, I’m not a fan of EG but believe if national federations and World aquatics paid their athletes what they are worth we would never be in a situation where they are tempted else where to secure their financial future.
Swimming is not a well paid sport for its athletes but how much money does British swimming pay its head coaches, CEO, technical directors?
It runs into the hundreds of thousands a year, they pay their top swimmers £26,000.
World aquatics has a quarter of a billion dollars in assets and only pays $20,000 for a win at the world Championships, hardly seems fair.
This kid is very likely going… Read more »
This ‘kid’ is a 30 year old man.