Olympic swimmer Ben Proud said it would take "13 years of winning a World Championship title" for athletes to earn the same amount of prize money on offer for winning a single race at the Enhanced Games.

On Wednesday, Proud became the first British athlete to join the controversial event, which allows athletes to take banned performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision.

The Enhanced Games offers appearance fees, with a $1m bonus on offer for breaking the world record for the 50m freestyle - the event in which Proud has won world and European gold.

At the World Aquatics Championships in 2022, the total prize money for swimming was $2.73m, with athletes receiving $20,000 for finishing first.

"I'm 30 years old and retirement has been a topic of contention for quite a few years," Proud told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"In reality, us athletes in the Olympic programme don't earn enough money to retire off the back of this and I am always seeking something that can see me through a bit longer."

Proud is on Aquatics GB's 'podium' list of their World Class Programme for 2025 which "supports athletes possessing genuine and strong medal potential at the next Olympic Games in LA 2028" and awards them with up to £29,000 of investment.

Aquatics GB has said it "condemns Ben's decision in the strongest terms".

Proud said he understands governing bodies' criticism, but argued "traditional sport" and the Enhanced Games are "two very different formats" and he does not expect to return to traditional swimming.

"It would have taken me 13 years of winning a World Championship title in order to win what I could win in one race at this games," Proud said.

"I love what I do, I love my sport and to continue it a little longer gives me that satisfaction."

The Enhanced Games is planned to be an annual competition, initially comprising short-distance swimming, sprinting and weightlifting, with the inaugural event set to be held in Las Vegas from 21-24 May 2026. (BBC)