The International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) has made headlines by suspending Olympian Cody Miller’s membership, following his recent affiliation with the Enhanced Games, an event notorious for its use of performance-enhancing substances.
In a statement regarding this decision, the IISA clarified, "This is not a moral or personal judgment against the athlete. Rather, it underscores our commitment to preserving the integrity of our sport." The organization emphasized that while safety concerns are part of their consideration, they are not the primary reason behind their actions. There remains a significant lack of research into how these enhanced substances might impact athlete safety, particularly in the extreme conditions inherent to ice swimming.
Furthermore, as a sport aiming for inclusion in the Winter Olympics, the IISA aligns its policies with the World Aquatics and Olympic Code of Conduct. Just last June, World Aquatics instituted a ban prohibiting all participants of the Enhanced Games from competing in its events. This led to a dramatic legal battle when the Enhanced Games filed an $800 million lawsuit against World Aquatics, which was ultimately dismissed by a federal judge in New York.
Miller himself has spoken about his interest in ice swimming competitions as he explained his choice to join the Enhanced Games. In a YouTube video, he compared various types of competitive swimming, including finswimming and ice swimming, to the new format offered by the Enhanced Games. He stated, "The Enhanced Games is something distinct and operates under a different set of rules."
At the recent inaugural Minnesota Ice Swim held in February 2025 at Lake Johanna, Miller participated as one of over 200 competitors. On his YouTube channel, he claimed to be part of a team that set a world record in a 4×25 meter medley relay; however, the IISA does not officially recognize records for this event, and SwimSwam could not verify this claim. Nevertheless, he did secure victories in both the 25 meter freestyle with a time of 12.60 seconds and the 50 meter freestyle, finishing in 28.25 seconds.
According to the event's website, this Minnesota Ice Swim is poised to become the first officially sanctioned IISA event in the United States.
Miller is among a growing list of at least 14 swimmers who have signed on to participate in the Enhanced Games, with more names expected to be revealed soon. At 33 years old, Miller is a distinguished two-time Olympic medalist, having won a gold medal in the men’s 400 medley relay and a bronze in the men’s 100 breaststroke during the 2016 Olympics.
His last competition under the USA Swimming and World Aquatics umbrella took place a year ago at the IU Natatorium Jingle Jamboree, where he participated in the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter backstroke, but notably did not compete in any breaststroke events. This meet marked his only official appearance since he placed 15th in the semifinals at the 2024 US Olympic Trials.
