Swimmer Max McCusker said joining the Enhanced Games was “a no-brainer” in order to compete in something “that no-one’s done before”.
The 26-year-old, who represented Ireland at the Olympics last year, announced earlier this month that he was joining the Games, a new multi-sport competition that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing substances.
McCusker, who was part of the Irish men’s 4x100m medley relay team in Paris, defended his position, pointing to the financial attraction of making the switch and the excitement of being involved in a new venture as the main reasons for his move.
The butterfly specialist, whose talents were honed at Millfield School in Somerset, told BBC Radio Somerset: “Post-Olympics, I essentially had no money.
“I’m not a Premier League footballer. You don’t make a lot of money in swimming. I guess, as a professional swimmer for four-ish years, I probably made less than £10,000.”
McCusker said he worked outside of swimming and had support from his parents to fund his dream of reaching the Olympics.
He retired following the Paris Games and went into corporate work before being approached by the Enhanced Games about their inaugural event, due to take place next May in Las Vegas.
The winner of each event will pocket $500,000 (£375,000) and there will be $1m (£750,000) for those who break a world record.
“It was just an absolute no-brainer. Not just the financial side. It was out of interest,” McCusker said.
“I’d done an Olympics – and barely anyone’s done that – but this is another great opportunity. A great experience to do something that no-one’s done before.”
