Kyle Chalmers Turned Down Substantial Offer to Compete in Enhanced Games
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Kyle Chalmers turned down a multi-million dollar overture to compete in the Enhanced Games. Journalist Tom Decent broke the news in the SMH, reporting that Chalmers was offered a three-year contract that was worth more than $2 million (U.S.), but the multi-time Olympic medalist decided to spurn the Enhanced Games and pursue the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The report by the Sydney Morning Herald followed news that Great Britain’s Ben Proud, a world champion and one of the top sprinters in the world over the past decade, will compete at next year’s Enhanced Games. Proud’s decision came as a shock to the swimming community and revealed that the Enhanced Games are having success luring some of the top names in the sport with sizable financial offers.
The 27-year-old Chalmers captured the gold medal in the 100 freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and followed with silver medals in the event at the 2020 Games in Tokyo and the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Chalmers could receive a higher offer from the Enhanced Games, as it pursues an athlete that would be its highest profile name.
Phoebe Rothfield, who is Chalmers’ manager, confirmed that her client received a substantial offer from the Enhanced Games.
“It is life-changing money for a swimmer – or any Australian Olympic athlete, for that matter,” Rothfield said. “It could have set him and his young family up and helped with the mortgage, but Kyle said no from the onset. It was a brief discussion. What drives him is competing for his country, standing on the podium in the green and gold and doing the sport because he loves it.”
