Extended Games: Swimmer 'gets juice to gills' to win $1 million prize

James Magnussen will aim to set the 50m freestyle record at the extended games. Photo: Matt Slocum/AP

Former world champion swimmer James Magnussen says he will «pump to the gills» in a bid to win $1 million by breaking the 50m freestyle record at the Enhanced Games.

Magnussen is the first athlete in the world to publicly declare his interest in competing at the extended games. Enhanced Games, founded by Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza.

“I kept myself in good shape in retirement,” Magnussen said on a sports podcast.

“They [Enhanced Games] ] stated that they are supported by a man with a billion dollar fortune. If they shell out $1 million for the 50 freestyle world record, I'll join them as the first athlete.

“I'll work my ass off and beat it in six months.”< /p>

Magnussen won gold, silver and bronze at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and retired three years later.

Magnussen represented Australia at the Olympics. Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Last week, D'Souza announced two billionaire financial backers for the Expanded Games, which will take place in the middle of next year.

“Magnussen can show us what is human a body enhanced by science is truly capable,” said D'Souza.

“While we have not yet spoken to James, we want to publicly endorse the prize money which will encourage him and many other Olympic heroes to join the expanded movement. .

“I have no doubt that James Magnussen, so renowned for his tenacity, determination and his gigantic six foot seven inches, will be able to break the most important world record in swimming.

“We will write James Magnussen $1. million checks for breaking the world record in the 50m freestyle at the Advanced Games.

“The first Enhanced Games will feature several million-dollar prizes.

“The first enhanced athlete to publicly break Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record will also receive at least $1 million.”

< p lang='en' dir='ltr'>“What will you do if people start dying?”< br>
Piers Morgan questions Aron D'Souza, the entrepreneur who wants to host the Olympics without drug regulation. @piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/aBFH66DkUy

— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) July 5, 2023

D'Souza says the traditional Olympic model is exploitative and believes no testing for doping, events such as the 100-meter sprint can be run in less than nine seconds. The current official world record, set by Usain Bolt in 2009, is 9.58 seconds.

D'Souza argues that adult athletes should have the right to decide what goes into their body and that the current system put forward clandestine doping.

London 2012 Olympic gold medalist Anna Meares called the proposed new opponent at the Games without undergoing doping tests an unsafe “joke.”

Meares, who beat Victoria Pendleton in the women's cycling sprint in London, and was also a gold medalist in Athens, said: «It's a joke, to be honest. It's unfair, it's unsafe — I just don't think that's the right approach to the sport.»