<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display: block;" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout-key="-hz-x+u-32+b2" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3870917644377015" data-ad-slot="6798442647"></ins>//
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<p>Two Aussie Olympians have exchanged barbs after the controversial <a href="https://wwos.nine.com.au/enhanced-games" target="" rel="" title="Enhanced Games">Enhanced Games</a> was roundly criticised following its inaugural event on Monday.</p><p>Paris 2024 gold medallist <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/person/cameron-mcevoy-25df" target="" rel="" title="Cam McEvoy">Cam McEvoy</a> took a thinly veiled swipe at the athletes with an Instagram story on Monday afternoon.</p><p>A Gordon Ramsay meme was accompanied by the text, "Seriously? That all you got?".</p><p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/afl/brad-scott-sacked-essendon-bombers-fire-head-coach-news-2026-reaction-interim-20260526-p600mo.html" target="_blank" rel="" title=""><strong>Bombers sack coach after one win in 24 games</strong></a></p><p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin/news-2026-mitchell-moses-leg-injury-doubt-matt-burton-called-up-nsw-blues-game-one-20260525-p600h7.html" target="_blank" rel="" title=""><strong>'Earned that spot': Debutant tipped to fill Moses void</strong></a></p><p></p><p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/afl/neale-daniher-death-2026-garry-lyon-tribute-mnd-big-freeze-legacy-melbourne-demons-20260525-p600mc.html" target="_blank" rel="" title=""><strong>Brutal Daniher speech that turned AFL battlers into a force</strong></a></p><p>McEvoy has been a vocal critic of the Enhanced Games, which encourages athletes to take performance enhancing drugs in an attempt to break records in the pool and on the track.</p><p>His former Aussie Olympic teammate <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/person/james-magnussen-25q3" target="" rel="" title="James Magnussen">James Magnussen</a> was the poster boy for the controversial event, but he finished dead last in the two races he took part in.</p><p>In fact only one world record was broken - unofficially - and that was McEvoy's 50m freestyle mark, bettered by Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev who pocketed $1.4 million for the achievement.</p><img data-id="45cf8703-87ac-40b2-bad2-427ebcb939e2" src="https://prod.static9.net.au/fs/45cf8703-87ac-40b2-bad2-427ebcb939e2" caption="James Magnussen speaks to 9News as Cam McEvoy takes aim at the Enhanced Games." alt="James Magnussen speaks to 9News as Cam McEvoy takes aim at the Enhanced Games." source="Nine" data-width="486" data-height="273" fs="true" master-key="45cf8703-87ac-40b2-bad2-427ebcb939e2" options="{"aspect":1.7777777777777777,"originalWidth":486,"originalHeight":298}"/><p>Magnussen took home just $70,000, but defended his performances when speaking to 9News later in the night.</p><p>"There are bigger opportunities involved in this than just the prize money on the night," he told 9News.</p><p>"We wanted to turn heads, and we turned heads."</p><p><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/swimming/clean-swimmer-beats-doped-athletes-to-pocket-350-000-at-enhanced-games-20260525-p6008e.html" target="_blank" rel="" title="Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald">Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald</a> in a separate interview, Magnussen hit back at McEvoy.</p><p>"Cam's sitting at home talking about us. We're not talking about Cam," he said.</p><p>The Games were roundly labelled a flop following the inaugural event, which was held in Las Vegas and attracted minimal interest from spectators.</p><p>Gkolomeev celebrated when he shaved 0.7 seconds off McEvoy's 50m freestyle record, but overall the athletes failed to break records despite most of them using WADA-banned substances to enhance their performance.</p><img data-id="53ac326c-f2d0-42ac-bc2a-fbee8cd2b9da" src="https://prod.static9.net.au/fs/53ac326c-f2d0-42ac-bc2a-fbee8cd2b9da" caption="Kristian Gkolomeev competes during the Enhanced Games." alt="Kristian Gkolomeev competes during the Enhanced Games." source="Getty Images for Enhanced" data-width="636" data-height="358" fs="true" master-key="53ac326c-f2d0-42ac-bc2a-fbee8cd2b9da" options="{"zoom":1.61,"offset":{"x":-11,"y":-146},"aspect":1.7777777777777777,"originalWidth":1024,"originalHeight":691}"/><p>Ben Proud was not far behind Gkolomeev as the quartet approached the wall, touching in for a personal best time of 20.98. Magnussen finished last out of four in 22.35. The Australian's personal best in his prime years for the 50m freestyle was 21.52.</p><p>It is the second time in the space of 12 months that Gkolomeev has beaten the world record set by a clean athlete, earning a combined total of $2.7m AUD for his record-breaking efforts.</p><p>"Another million - I'm going to say that's not bad at all," Gkolomeev said.</p><p>"This is going to change my life for good, that's for sure."</p><p>But even with a new record to his name, Gkolomeev still wants more. </p><p>"Maybe next year I will break it again," he said.</p><img data-video-id="6396542807112" src="https://vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/2026/05/773993/pickerimage.jpg" caption="James Magnussen touches the wall last in the 100m freestyle event at the Enhanced Games." alt="Magnussen tanks in 100m freestyle" data-vms-id="ref:cmpkkyozq001u0hmihr1me75g" account="network"/><p>Magnussen took to the blocks at the Enhanced Games wearing a custom-made gold performance-enhancing suit, designed to commemorate the fact he was the first athlete to sign on to compete in the event.</p><p>Earlier in the day, Pan Zhanle's 100m freestyle world record of 46.40 was the first target for all four swimmers competing in the men's freestyle events, with a prize of $1.4m AUD up for grabs for lowering the mark. But Magnussen was more than three seconds off recording that time, touching the wall in a pedestrian 49.44 - well short of the 47.10 personal best he set in his prime.</p><p>The 35-year-old broke the water last after the starting buzzer sounded and struggled to catch up to Gkolomeev and clean athlete Hunter Armstrong in the opening 50.</p><p>Gkolomeev sat more than a body length ahead of the field as he turned to complete the final lap.</p><p>His pace looked on track to topple Zhanle's time, but he fell just short, recording a 40.60.</p><a href="https://x.com/ErinMarsico/status/2058727111033287137" rel="nofollow" class="embed-social embed-twitter" data-show-caption="false" data-conversation="none">https://x.com/ErinMarsico/status/2058727111033287137</a><p>Magnussen followed well behind Gkolomeev, touching the wall in fourth place (of four swimmers) in 49.44.</p><p>Even though his time was slower than he hoped, Magnussen still had a smile on his face.</p><p>Gkolomeev was content with his time despite narrowly missing out on the huge prize for breaking the world record - a feat he would achieve soon after in the shorter sprint event. </p><p>"It was a good race. I am really happy, very close to the world record," he said after receiving assistance from Magnussen to take off the top part of his suit post-race.</p><img data-id="c0be1420-9d10-4790-be87-d5899a4d631a" src="https://prod.static9.net.au/fs/c0be1420-9d10-4790-be87-d5899a4d631a" caption="(L-R) James Magnussen, Hunter Armstrong and Shane Ryan." alt="(L-R) James Magnussen, Hunter Armstrong and Shane Ryan." source="Getty Images for Enhanced" data-width="753" data-height="424" fs="true" master-key="c0be1420-9d10-4790-be87-d5899a4d631a" options="{"zoom":1.36,"offset":{"x":-36,"y":-84},"aspect":1.7777777777777777,"originalWidth":1024,"originalHeight":683}"/><p>"I really wanted to (break the world record) but that's OK.</p><p>"I tried to save some energy for the second 50 but at the end I died a little bit."</p><p>Despite missing the record, Gkolomeev still earned $348,000 AUD for his efforts in the 100m sprint race. Magnussen won just shy of $70,000 for coming fourth.</p> <p>Two Aussie Olympians have exchanged barbs after the controversial <a href="https://wwos.nine.com.au/enhanced-games" target="" rel="" title="Enhanced Games">Enhanced Games</a> was roundly criticised following its inaugural event on Monday.</p><p>Paris 2024 gold medallist <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/person/cameron-mcevoy-25df" target="" rel="" title="Cam McEvoy">Cam McEvoy</a> took a thinly veiled swipe at the athletes with an Instagram story on Monday afternoon.</p><p>A Gordon Ramsay meme was accompanied by the text, "Seriously? That all you got?".</p><p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/afl/brad-scott-sacked-essendon-bombers-fire-head-coach-news-2026-reaction-interim-20260526-p600mo.html" target="_blank" rel="" title=""><strong>Bombers sack coach after one win in 24 games</strong></a></p><p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/state-of-origin/news-2026-mitchell-moses-leg-injury-doubt-matt-burton-called-up-nsw-blues-game-one-20260525-p600h7.html" target="_blank" rel="" title=""><strong>'Earned that spot': Debutant tipped to fill Moses void</strong></a></p><p></p><p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/afl/neale-daniher-death-2026-garry-lyon-tribute-mnd-big-freeze-legacy-melbourne-demons-20260525-p600mc.html" target="_blank" rel="" title=""><strong>Brutal Daniher speech that turned AFL battlers into a force</strong></a></p><p>McEvoy has been a vocal critic of the Enhanced Games, which encourages athletes to take performance enhancing drugs in an attempt to break records in the pool and on the track.</p><p>His former Aussie Olympic teammate <a href="https://www.nine.com.au/person/james-magnussen-25q3" target="" rel="" title="James Magnussen">James Magnussen</a> was the poster boy for the controversial event, but he finished dead last in the two races he took part in.</p><p>In fact only one world record was broken - unofficially - and that was McEvoy's 50m freestyle mark, bettered by Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev who pocketed $1.4 million for the achievement.</p><img data-id="45cf8703-87ac-40b2-bad2-427ebcb939e2" src="https://prod.static9.net.au/fs/45cf8703-87ac-40b2-bad2-427ebcb939e2" caption="James Magnussen speaks to 9News as Cam McEvoy takes aim at the Enhanced Games." alt="James Magnussen speaks to 9News as Cam McEvoy takes aim at the Enhanced Games." source="Nine" data-width="486" data-height="273" fs="true" master-key="45cf8703-87ac-40b2-bad2-427ebcb939e2" options="{"aspect":1.7777777777777777,"originalWidth":486,"originalHeight":298}"/><p>Magnussen took home just $70,000, but defended his performances when speaking to 9News later in the night.</p><p>"There are bigger opportunities involved in this than just the prize money on the night," he told 9News.</p><p>"We wanted to turn heads, and we turned heads."</p><p><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/swimming/clean-swimmer-beats-doped-athletes-to-pocket-350-000-at-enhanced-games-20260525-p6008e.html" target="_blank" rel="" title="Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald">Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald</a> in a separate interview, Magnussen hit back at McEvoy.</p><p>"Cam's sitting at home talking about us. We're not talking about Cam," he said.</p><p>The Games were roundly labelled a flop following the inaugural event, which was held in Las Vegas and attracted minimal interest from spectators.</p><p>Gkolomeev celebrated when he shaved 0.7 seconds off McEvoy's 50m freestyle record, but overall the athletes failed to break records despite most of them using WADA-banned substances to enhance their performance.</p><img data-id="53ac326c-f2d0-42ac-bc2a-fbee8cd2b9da" src="https://prod.static9.net.au/fs/53ac326c-f2d0-42ac-bc2a-fbee8cd2b9da" caption="Kristian Gkolomeev competes during the Enhanced Games." alt="Kristian Gkolomeev competes during the Enhanced Games." source="Getty Images for Enhanced" data-width="636" data-height="358" fs="true" master-key="53ac326c-f2d0-42ac-bc2a-fbee8cd2b9da" options="{"zoom":1.61,"offset":{"x":-11,"y":-146},"aspect":1.7777777777777777,"originalWidth":1024,"originalHeight":691}"/><p>Ben Proud was not far behind Gkolomeev as the quartet approached the wall, touching in for a personal best time of 20.98. Magnussen finished last out of four in 22.35. The Australian's personal best in his prime years for the 50m freestyle was 21.52.</p><p>It is the second time in the space of 12 months that Gkolomeev has beaten the world record set by a clean athlete, earning a combined total of $2.7m AUD for his record-breaking efforts.</p><p>"Another million - I'm going to say that's not bad at all," Gkolomeev said.</p><p>"This is going to change my life for good, that's for sure."</p><p>But even with a new record to his name, Gkolomeev still wants more. </p><p>"Maybe next year I will break it again," he said.</p><img data-video-id="6396542807112" src="https://vms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/2026/05/773993/pickerimage.jpg" caption="James Magnussen touches the wall last in the 100m freestyle event at the Enhanced Games." alt="Magnussen tanks in 100m freestyle" data-vms-id="ref:cmpkkyozq001u0hmihr1me75g" account="network"/><p>Magnussen took to the blocks at the Enhanced Games wearing a custom-made gold performance-enhancing suit, designed to commemorate the fact he was the first athlete to sign on to compete in the event.</p><p>Earlier in the day, Pan Zhanle's 100m freestyle world record of 46.40 was the first target for all four swimmers competing in the men's freestyle events, with a prize of $1.4m AUD up for grabs for lowering the mark. But Magnussen was more than three seconds off recording that time, touching the wall in a pedestrian 49.44 - well short of the 47.10 personal best he set in his prime.</p><p>The 35-year-old broke the water last after the starting buzzer sounded and struggled to catch up to Gkolomeev and clean athlete Hunter Armstrong in the opening 50.</p><p>Gkolomeev sat more than a body length ahead of the field as he turned to complete the final lap.</p><p>His pace looked on track to topple Zhanle's time, but he fell just short, recording a 40.60.</p><a href="https://x.com/ErinMarsico/status/2058727111033287137" rel="nofollow" class="embed-social embed-twitter" data-show-caption="false" data-conversation="none">https://x.com/ErinMarsico/status/2058727111033287137</a><p>Magnussen followed well behind Gkolomeev, touching the wall in fourth place (of four swimmers) in 49.44.</p><p>Even though his time was slower than he hoped, Magnussen still had a smile on his face.</p><p>Gkolomeev was content with his time despite narrowly missing out on the huge prize for breaking the world record - a feat he would achieve soon after in the shorter sprint event. </p><p>"It was a good race. I am really happy, very close to the world record," he said after receiving assistance from Magnussen to take off the top part of his suit post-race.</p><img data-id="c0be1420-9d10-4790-be87-d5899a4d631a" src="https://prod.static9.net.au/fs/c0be1420-9d10-4790-be87-d5899a4d631a" caption="(L-R) James Magnussen, Hunter Armstrong and Shane Ryan." alt="(L-R) James Magnussen, Hunter Armstrong and Shane Ryan." source="Getty Images for Enhanced" data-width="753" data-height="424" fs="true" master-key="c0be1420-9d10-4790-be87-d5899a4d631a" options="{"zoom":1.36,"offset":{"x":-36,"y":-84},"aspect":1.7777777777777777,"originalWidth":1024,"originalHeight":683}"/><p>"I really wanted to (break the world record) but that's OK.</p><p>"I tried to save some energy for the second 50 but at the end I died a little bit."</p><p>Despite missing the record, Gkolomeev still earned $348,000 AUD for his efforts in the 100m sprint race. Magnussen won just shy of $70,000 for coming fourth.</p> https://ift.tt/ocnODpl<br>
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