A Champion’s Choice: Ben Proud and the Erosion of Competitive Integrity
Ben Proud, a decorated swimmer with six World Championship medals (including two golds) and five Commonwealth Games victories, enjoyed a career that typically guarantees lasting recognition and respect within the sporting world. That status has been irrevocably altered by a recent decision that has drawn swift and severe condemnation from his former national governing body.
Aquatics GB expressed its “immense disappointment” following Proud’s announcement that he would compete with the Enhanced Games, stating via Instagram that the association “stands firmly behind the values and principles of clean sport and condemns Ben’s decision in the strongest terms.”
While Proud has been cautious in publicly addressing whether he intends to utilize performance-enhancing drugs – permissible under the Enhanced Games’ rules – his participation alone represents a significant challenge to the core principles of competitive swimming. The foundation of the sport,from local leagues to the Olympic stage,rests on dedication to fair play,a standard upheld by legendary athletes like Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky through consistent,clean competition.
Proud’s decision offers potential benefits, including the possibility of claiming a world record utilizing the full-body polyurethane suits banned since 2009, a less demanding competitive schedule, and substantial prize money. However, these advantages come at a steep cost: the sacrifice of his sporting integrity and a betrayal of the principles that defined his prosperous career.
The motivations behind the Enhanced Games themselves are questionable. Driven by profit rather than a genuine desire to improve the sport, the venture aims to capitalize on “world-record breaking” performances achieved through methods lacking legitimacy in the eyes of the broader swimming community. The Enhanced Games appear to prioritize only the most elite athletes, offering opportunities solely to those who enhance their brand value.
The long-term consequences of Proud’s choice will likely be borne by him, and potentially by other elite swimmers tempted by this alternative. Most concerningly,his defection lends credibility to the Enhanced Games,potentially opening the door for others who previously questioned its validity. A fundamentally flawed concept, previously dismissed by many, has now been granted a renewed lease on life, threatening the integrity of competitive swimming.
