2016 Olympic gold medalist Cody Miller has become the second American swimmer to join the Enhanced Games after Megan Romano.
According to an article published in the New York Times, Miller will join the Enhanced Games for its debut in 2026. A breaststroke specialist, Miller represented the United States at the 2016, winning a surprising bronze medal in the 100 breaststroke and a gold medal as a member of the men’s 4×100 medley relay. Following his Olympic debut, Miller qualified for the 2017 World Championships, but failed to medal individually. From that point, his career slowly regressed as he failed to qualify for the 2019 World Championships and 2021 Olympic Games. His most recent national-level competition came at the 2024 US Olympic Trials, where Miller finished 15th overall in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.63). He announced his retitrment from professional swimming almost exactly one year ago in December 2024.
Since 2017, Miller has amassed a large following on social media for his “Cody Miller Adventures” vlog on YouTube, which has over 195k subscribers. Over the years, Miller has vlogged about general training, competitions, and debated topics within the swim community. In recent months, Miller has posted several videos about the Enhanced Games. While he offered neither support nor criticism in his earlier videos, Miller’s most recent video titled, “5 Reasons Enhanced Games WONT FAIL” showed more support towards the competition.
Prior to the dawn of the Enhanced Games discussion, Miller had been very vocal about his opinions on anti-doping policies. He was one of several athletes to speak-out about a case against 23 Chinese athletes on behalf of clean athletes before the 2024 Olympic Games, telling reporters “I think it’s just frustrating for all the athletes that do go through the process of dealing with USADA (the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) on a regular basis,” Miller added. “I mean, they show up to my house when I’m trying to put my kids to bed and try to feed them dinner. And I have to stand in the restroom with a stranger and pee in a cup.” He was also a member of the International Swimming League’s DC Trident, with the league’s focus on strong anti-doping policies a key point in its advertising.
With this announcement, Miller is now the 14th swimmer committed to the Enhanced Games, which added the 50 and 100 breaststroke to its lineup following the addition of several swimmers last week. The Enhanced Games are set to occur in Las Vegas in 2026 with swimmers being offered heavy cash incentives for besting the current world record times in their respective events.
Men (11):
- Ben Proud
- James Magnussen
- Kristian Gkolomeev
- Andrii Govorov
- Josif Miladinov
- Marius Kusch
- Shane Ryan
- Felipe Lima
- Max McCusker
- Evgenii Somov
- Cody Miller
Women (3):
Enhanced games is just another expression for doping. But I guess money talks.
I’m happy that Cody has options. There’s a safe way to do this, and I’m sure he will take the necessary precautions to keep things safe.
I hope he continues to document and share his progress and teach us all about the dos and don’ts of being enhanced.
Is this the reason why an accomplished swimmer is auctioning his Olympic medals?
You think Ryan Lochte is auctioning his medals to join a league that will pay him half a million to compete?
There are a number of reasons I wouldn’t expect Lochte in the enhanced games…but besides those I’m not sure I follow your logic.
He’s a little past saving when it comes to prime shape, no amount of trt can bring him back right now. All for the best, he needs to focus on his financials and mental right now.
Other countries value their champions more than the US. If you win a gold medal in the Olympics here are the payouts for the athletes.
Hong Kong = $768,000
Singapore = $737,000
Taiwan = $720,000
Thailand = $365,000
While the US pays only $37,500
Austrailia pays $20,000
Canada pays $14,572
Great Britain / Norway / Sweden: Pays Nothing
All you people against the enhanced games need to redirect your anger to the US Olympic Committee.
Yeah, except Hong Kong paid twice. Thailand only paid out once. Singapore did not make a gold medal payment in 2024. Just on gold medal payments, the USOPC sent out something like $1.5 million if your figures are correct.
When you factor in access to coaching, facilities, sponsorships, media, and other measures of athlete support like USOPC health insurance, American Olympic athletes have some of the best support in the world.
There are people who struggle. Talk about executive compensation at the USOPC if you want to. But in the grand scheme of things, Americans are far better prepared and supported than almost any peer nation.
do they forfeit their $$$ if they pop a +?
Honestly let people join it, and make it become a thing- because I’m 100% sure it’ll only make the “clean” Olympics, WC’s, etc come across more mystical and otherworldly than it already comes across.
Nobody, at least nobody right-minded, will believe the dirty games are in the actual canon of elite swimming…it’ll be pure entertainment. Which is good for the actual sport, indirectly.
Correct. Swimming’s biggest problem is the lack of exposure on a national level. I know a lot of guys ( non swimmers ) excited to watch the EG. These same guys had no desire to watch the ISL. Simply watching someone swim regardless of what they might be taking, helps to expose the sport to more people and get them interested.
inb4 Nic Fink joins the enhanced games
YOU ARE ON TO SOMETHING. He’s been pretty quiet and he’s getting older. He ACTUALLY has a shot at some of Peaty’s records on roids.
Who’s the 1st American?
Megan Romano. Good catch that it was omitted above, I’ll add it.
Like I said before, go get paid but no one takes any of these possible achievements seriously. Like the Million Dollar Man once said, ‘everybody’s got a price’.