“Oh Jesus,” says Shane Ryan. “You have no idea of the shitstorm that I’ve caused.”

It’s early morning in Las Vegas and Ryan has just woken up to the fact that back in Ireland, news of him signing up to be part of the Enhanced Games has broken. There’s been criticism from far and wide, from Sport Ireland, from Swim Ireland, from journalists and commentators and right across social media. None of it came as a surprise to him. But still, being in the middle of it is an experience.

And so he wants to give his side of things. Ryan is a good communicator and has always been one of the more quotable Olympians to represent Ireland over the past couple of decades. A brash son of Philadelphia, he has never really been one for the Irish poor mouth thing. Just ask him and he’ll tell you.

“I represented Ireland to the best of my ability,” he says. “Been to three Olympic Games, Olympic semi-finalist. I have two world medals for Ireland, two European medals and a World University Games gold medal. And I’m literally one of the fastest backstrokers in history.

“That’s something you can’t change. That’s something I’ve done and I’ve closed that book. But when it comes down to it, when you step outside of that swimming world, money is what matters.”

In a way, it’s that simple. Ryan is doing this for money. He is going to take performance-enhancing drugs and swim in races under their effects first and foremost be