Shane Ryan: Irish Olympian joins the Improved Games

Irish Olympic swimmer Shane Ryan has joined the Enhanced Games, a multi-sport competition that will allow athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without undergoing drug tests.

Ryan, who was born in the United States, competed in three consecutive Olympics for Ireland before announcing his retirement from the sport earlier this month.

“After a decade dedicated to traditional competition on the world’s highest stage, I’m excited to delve into this next chapter with enhanced gaming,” the 31-year-old said of his decision.

Ryan joins Team Great Britain Olympic swimmer Ben Proud, four-time Greek Olympian Kristian Jekolomiev and American runner Fred Curley in announcing his intention to compete in the Games.

Sport Ireland criticized the move, saying it was “extremely disappointed” by the decision.

The first Enhanced Games are scheduled to be held in Las Vegas in 2026, with each event awarding a total prize purse of $500,000 and $1 million on offer for competitors who break world records.

Swimming Ireland also condemned the move, confirming that he was separating from the organization and would no longer receive any funding or services.

Ryan competed in Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, becoming the first Irish swimmer to compete in three Olympic Games.

The Irish Olympic Association said Ryan’s move to the enhanced Games was “directly inconsistent with our core values ​​of clean sport”.