Antani Ivanov Seems In Enhanced Games Social Media Posts as Coaching Strikes to Abu Dhabi

Bulgarian Olympian Antani Ivanov has appeared in social media posts throughout conferences for the Enhanced Games‘ new coaching camp in Abu Dhabi.

Ivanov largely declined to touch upon his future in swimming, citing what he perceived as earlier unfair remedy towards him by the media, however did briefly say that “these people gave me an opportunity” earlier than deleting that message.

That remark doesn’t essentially affirm Ivanov’s participation within the Enhanced Games; as a result of Enhanced Games workers are barred from World Aquatics occasions, coaching with this group might not violate the phrases of Ivanov’s suspension.

The Enhanced Games has moved its base of operation from Las Vegas, United States to Abu Dhabi, UAE forward of its first deliberate spectacle in May 2026 again in Las Vegas. Most of the publicly-announced Enhanced Games individuals, together with American swimmers Cody Miller and Megan Romano, and Australian swimmer James Magnussen. Magnussen, who was lengthy retired earlier than being one of many first swimmers to signal on with the Enhanced Games motion, posted that he has decreased his weight from 114kg to 96.3kg (251 lb to 212 lb).

Ivanov, who swam collegiately at Virginia Tech, was the 2017 World Junior Championships bronze medalist within the 200 fly. He completed third in the identical occasion on the 2021 NCAA Championships.

He represented Bulgaria within the 200 fly on the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The now-26-year-old is likely one of the youthful individuals within the Enhanced Games motion.

Ivanov was suspended first in 2021 by the Bulgarian Swimming Federation for 3 years on prices that he broken the fame of the federation, athletes, coaches, and board members. That suspension was ultimately overturned as a result of it was discovered to be in violation of the group’s bylaws, which solely enable for 2 12 months suspensions. He was then given a two 12 months suspension in 2024 below the federation’s disciplinary code after making a number of media appearances and social media posts criticizing the suspension.

That suspension was scheduled to run out on March 14, 2026, however has now been prolonged one other two years after Ivanov participated within the swimming leg of an informal triathlon with associates.

In the interim, he additionally served a two 12 months suspension for lacking three Whereabouts failures, although he maintained that he was being punished for his public statements in regards to the federation.

In 2025, a Bulgarian court docket discovered him responsible and defamation and insult in opposition to Georgi Avramchev, President of the Bulgarian Swimming Federation, after Ivanov known as him “Mr. Oligophren” on Facebook and accusing him of corruption and theft. He was fined and given a public reprimand for his actions.

In transient feedback to SwimSwam on Monday, Ivanov reiterated his sense of corruption within the 2024 suspension on condition that Avramchev was “both a plaintiff and the chairman of the commission.”

Swimmers are at present coaching out of Erth Abu Dhabi, a luxurious lodge in Abu Dhabi with a 50 meter pool.