Amidst the excitement surrounding the Paris Olympics this year, a unique concept has emerged, stirring both intrigue and controversy: the Enhanced Games. Championed by CEO Dr. Aron D’Souza, this venture, despite its allowance for performance-enhancing drugs, emphasizes the safety and financial benefits of athletes. Adding to the unfolding drama, attention converged from the land down under when “The Missile,” James Magnussen, a renowned Australian swimmer, boldly declared his intention to “juice to the gills” in a quest to shatter the world record in the men’s 50 freestyle as part of the Enhanced Games.

While his proclamation sparked outrage, the organizers of the event even offered a staggering $1.5 million reward should Magnussen achieve this feat. However, in recent developments, despite clinching a lucrative $1 million deal, Magnussen stuns once again with a seemingly audacious request linked to his pursuit of the world record.

James Magnussen’s strategy for breaking the world record at the Enhanced Games

In a podcast interview on YouTube called “Inside with Brett Hawke,” James Magnussen divulged details of his ambitious $1 million strategy aimed at breaking the 50 Free World Record. Magnussen expressed his goal of returning his body to its early 20s shape, citing the anti-aging industry’s potential, particularly in testosterone replacement and other treatments, in his attempt to shatter the record. However, the conversation took an unexpected turn when Magnussen disclosed a peculiar request he had made to the organizers of the Enhanced Games.

He said, “Part of what I want to have for this world record attempt is the Super Suits that were around in 2009. I think it’s important that we compare apples with apples when we’re comparing human performance. So first and foremost, I want the same suit as César had, which would have been nice to use during my career, but I want the same suit as César had in ’09.” As we reflect on these intriguing revelations, let us delve deeper into the challenge that Magnussen seeks to undertake and why he places such significance on the iconic “Super Suits” worn by the legendary César Cielo.

Record-breaking phenom César Cielo and the “Super Suits” 

LZR Racer suits aka ‘super suits’ were launched by swimwear giant Speedo in 2008. The suit incorporated polyurethane panels into its existing design and while replacing the Teflon coating. More polyurethane resulted in less drag. Thanks to this, 55 world records were broken in that year in long course meters, including 25 during the Beijing Olympics. Notably, Cesar Cielo’s 50 freestyle and Michael Phelps’ 400 IM records came donning the gear. Among these, Cielo’s record still stands strong.

On December 18, 2009, in São Paulo, Cesar Cielo shattered the world record in the 50-meter freestyle with a remarkable time of 20.91 seconds. This historic achievement took place at the Brazilian Championships, hosted at Esporte Clube Pinheiros, his home club, where he had trained since 2003. Notably, this event marked the final opportunity for swimmers to utilize super suits in Brazil before the ban officially came into effect in 2010.

His record-breaking performance surpassed the previous mark of 20.94 seconds set by French swimmer Frederick Bousquet earlier that year. As swimmers continue to push the boundaries of speed, the question remains: will James Magnussen surpass Cielo’s record at the Enhanced Games? Comment below!

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