Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder Hunter Armstrong is joining the Enhanced Games, he has confirmed to SwimSwam, but does not plan on taking the performance-enhancing drugs.
Armstrong, 25, is the first athlete to publicly commit to the Enhanced Games with the intention of competing clean.
View this post on Instagram
He made his intent on competing clean clear in an Instagram story on Tuesday:
The two-time American Olympian has been open about the financial struggles he’s dealt with as a professional swimmer, leading him to consider retirement last year. He went in-depth on the situation last May on the SwimSwam Podcast.
Armstrong told SwimSwam that pursuing the Enhanced Games, which is offering $1 million for breaking the world record in the 50 freestyle and will have a prize purse of $500,000 for each event ($250,000 going to the winner), was his best option to be able to continue supporting himself financially while training to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
“If I don’t join Enhanced, I lose everything. If I do join Enhanced, I have a chance at not losing everything,” Armstrong said, according to ESPN‘s Dan Murphy. “My back was against the wall, so I had to reopen that conversation to see if it was a plausible option.”
However, even if Armstrong competes in the Enhanced Games without taking performance-enhancing drugs, something will have to give in order for him to be able to compete in World Aquatics-sanctioned events. The international governing body enacted a bylaw (bylaw 10) last year banning any participants in Enhanced Games competitions from its events.
The Enhanced Games filed a lawsuit against World Aquatics, along with USA Swimming and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), alleging that bylaw 10 was anticompetitive, but a Federal Judge concluded that it didn’t do what Enhanced claims it did.
However, Armstrong’s signing gives the Enhanced Games a harmed party to potentially sue World Aquatics and USA Swimming again.
Armstrong told ESPN he spoke with World Aquatics officials prior to the announcement but did not get a clear answer on how his eligibility status would be handled.
“Nobody really knows what’s going to happen, and nobody will give me an answer on what’s going to happen,” Armstrong said, according to ESPN. “So all I can work off of is what the rules say and take a chance because I won’t get an answer by waiting.”
USA Swimming National Team Director Greg Meehan sent the following email to National Team members on Tuesday after Armstrong’s decision was made public:
We are aware that Hunter Armstrong has announced his plans to participate in the Enhanced Games as a clean athlete. I wanted to be sure you heard from USA Swimming immediately and directly. We are disappointed in this news, as Hunter has been a valuable member of our National Team for over five years, and we are not sure how the relevant regulatory bodies will respond to this unprecedented situation. If we learn more to address this uncertainty, we will share with you.
Armstrong last competed at the U.S. Open in December, placing 14th in the final of the men’s 50 free (22.35) and finishing in the same position in the heats of the 50 back (25.65) before scratching the final.
He did not compete at the U.S. National Championships in June, the American selection meet for the 2025 World Championships, but did race at the U.S. Pro Championships in August, earning a runner-up finish in the 50 free (21.76).
A former Ohio State Buckeye, Armstrong broke out in 2021 by qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team in the men’s 100 back, going on to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Games as a prelim member of the men’s 4×100 medley relay.
After winning five medals at the 2022 World Championships and three at the 2023 edition in Fukuoka, highlighted by an individual gold medal in the 50 back, Armstrong made his second straight Olympic team in 2024, earning a silver medal in Paris in the men’s medley relay while placing 11th in the 100 back.
Armstrong is the 18th swimmer to commit to the Enhanced Games and the second American man, joining fellow Olympic gold medalist Cody Miller.
SEE THE HUNTER ARMSTRONG PODCAST INTERVIEW ON THIS TOPIC HERE.
Enhanced Games Commitments – Swimming
| Country | Athlete | Olympics |
| Australia | James Magnussen |
2012 (silver, bronze), 2016 (bronze)
|
| Brazil | Felipe Lima |
2012, 2016, 2021
|
| Bulgaria | Josif Miladinov | 2021, 2024 |
| Bulgaria | Antani Ivanov | 2021 |
| Colombia | Isabella Arcila | 2016, 2021 |
| Germany | Marius Kusch | 2021 |
| Great Britain | Ben Proud | 2016, 2021, 2024 (silver) |
| Great Britain | Emily Barclay | — |
| Greece | Kristian Gkolomeev |
2012, 2016, 2021, 2024
|
| Ireland | Shane Ryan |
2016, 2021, 2024
|
| Ireland | Max McCusker | 2024 |
| Mexico | Miguel de Lara Ojeda | 2024 |
| Poland | Natalia Fryckowska | – |
| Russia | Evgenii Somov | 2024 |
| Ukraine | Andriy Govorov | 2012, 2016 |
| United States | Megan Romano | – |
| United States | Cody Miller |
2016 (gold, bronze)
|
| United States | Hunter Armstrong |
2021 (gold), 2024 (gold, silver)
|
He should not be able to compete in LA 2028. And he should have waited for an actual CONTRACT before buying a house and dogs. Using financial incompetence to justify competing in an event that undermines the integrity of sport is ridiculous.
It’s a silly idea to put all of your marbles into making a living from being a pro swimmer.
Maybe working on job skills in college would have saved him lots of headaches.
The enhanced games is a Hail Mary at best for a few extra bucks. As for a long term solution is astronomically unlikely to help him.
Interesting observation that the comments section on SwimSwam’s post on Instagram (which is a video clip from the interview) are generally positive, whereas the comments section here is highly critical of the move.
I think you could argue, therefore, that hardcore fans, coaches, and insiders have negative views but casual fans, general sports followers/general public (a larger percentage of the general population) are more understanding.
Gives some context to the situation.
Makes sense. It’s no secret this guy is is incredibly low IQ
How
How low of Swimswam to promote such derogatory statements – the time will come when a slurred person will sue – best of luck to them, Swimswam, hang your heads in shame!
I really find all of this pearl clutching at the Enhanced Games amusing. It’s not like these athletes are going to go back and compete at the Olympics, despite what Armstrong may believe. Let them make their money and move on with their lives, they sure don’t owe us anything.
It’s baffling that Michael Andrew and his dad are able to live a life of luxury with no income but swimming. MA spends his days surfing and grilling while managing to financially support his dad who has no job but coaching MA. Sure Michael was sponsored in the past but now hes just usa swimming, some eggs, goggles and a few other minor product sponsors that he managed to wrangle while doing nothing but swimming a couple laps a day in a sc pool. its embarrassing that anyone would sponsor his lifestyle which doesn’t produce anything meaningful to society. its possible to swim at the elite level and do meaningful work elsewhere at the same time. MA though just wants… Read more »
Cam McEvoy swims a few laps a day, not even everyday. How is what MA does any different than anyone else? What are the other swimmers who get sponsors contributing? MA has had loads of sponsors since he was a teen he’s had money, Hunter came onto the scene much later and definitely had no where near sponsors like MA.
Hunter: I’m joining the enhanced games
You, for some reason: HOW DARE MA SUPPORT HIMSELF BY SWIMMING???
One thing I admire him for is that he very bluntly says athletes should not be relying on the APA and need to start posting vlogs or podcasts or reels if they want to make it work. He doesn’t “want to get paid” as you’re saying… he IS a grown man getting paid off of his hard work. No one has done a better job building a platform as evidenced by Team USA’s social media followers. I would much rather athletes do what he’s doing than what Hunter is.
And “contributing value to society”… wait till you find out how many people… Read more »
You can read in the comments that the majority of them are a bunch of self-righteous people trying to condemn someone for competing clean. Most likely most of you never had to survive for the love of your sport (I can see how basically every example is another athlete that “you know”). If he or anyone wants to be clean and compete in this, they can get just drug tested every week and post the results online. Any rules broken? And what if he WINS? What about the message it gives? Talent and hard-work beats cheats!
You should not be concerned about what he is doing for money (is he committing crimes?), you should be more concerned about what… Read more »
You guys are hilarious. You sound like some gossiping parents of a first year summer league swimmer. This dude is an adult. He made a decision to compete in a circus event to make some money. It is working. I wouldn’t be surprised if the editors of this website are also getting paid. These articles get nearly as many comments as the NCAA finals live feeds. Whoever started these enhanced games is getting the reaction he is looking for. Every one of you pearl clutching naive swim fans is going to be glued to your tv or computer watching this nonsense. You’ve all been breathing too much chlorine. Leave the natatorium, touch some grass, and get some fresh air. Before… Read more »