Retired Irish Olympian Shane Ryan Joins Enhanced Games
Newly retired Irish Olympian Shane Ryan announced Monday he’s joining the Enhanced Games.
Ryan retired from competitive swimming last week. His decision drew immediate condemnation from sports governing bodies in Ireland.
“Sport Ireland is deeply disappointed that swimmer Shane Ryan has decided to take part in the Enhanced Games,” Sport Ireland said in a statement. “”This event, which allows the use of performance-enhancing substances and methods, risks compromising athlete wellbeing and sends an insidious message – especially to all young athletes.
“At Sport Ireland we are dedicated to safeguarding athlete health and defending the rights of the clean athlete. We are disappointed that any Irish high-performance athlete, past or present, would support an event which is so at odds with our values. It is the absolute antithesis of our work on behalf of the clean athlete. We condemn everything that the Enhanced Games stands for.”
Swim Ireland similar condemned the move in a statement.
“We are disappointed by Shane Ryan’s decision to sign an agreement with the Enhanced Games and can advise that in line with his retirement in October he is no longer associated with Swim Ireland’s National Team and further to that, will not be provided with any funding or services by the NGB going forward,” the organization said.
Ryan swam at three Olympics, making the semifinals of the Rio Olympics in the men’s 100 backstroke. He won a pair of bronze medals in the men’s 50 backstroke at the World Short-Course Championships in 2018 and 2024. He also won bronze in that event at European Championships in 2018 (long-course) and 2019 (short course). He finished 19th in the 50 back and 28th in the 50 fly at the 2025 World Championships.
Ryan injured his shoulder ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, requiring reconstruction surgery. He qualified for but did not swim backstroke, but he set a national record in the 100 fly as well as anchoring the qualified 800 free relay. He made the A cut but did not swim the 50 free at the Paris Olympics.
Ryan holds long-course Irish records in the 100 free, 50 back, 100 back and 100 fly, as well as short-course marks in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 back, 100 back, 50 fly and 100 fly.
