Photo Credit: Getty Images
The controversial Enhanced Games made headlines in Las Vegas after Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev clocked an unofficial world record in the men’s 50 metre freestyle, reigniting debate about performance enhancing drugs in sport.
Gkolomeev recorded a stunning time of 20.81 seconds, beating the official world record of 20.88 seconds set earlier this year by Australian swimmer Cameron McEvoy. However, the result will not be recognised by global sporting authorities because the Enhanced Games allow athletes to use banned performance enhancing substances.
The inaugural event featured competitions in swimming, athletics and weightlifting and quickly became one of the most talked about sporting events of the year. Unlike traditional international competitions governed by organisations such as the International Olympic Committee and World Anti Doping Agency, the Enhanced Games openly permit the use of substances that are prohibited in professional sport.
Gkolomeev achieved his record wearing a polyurethane swimsuit, equipment that has long been banned in official swimming competitions because of the advantage it provides athletes in the water. Despite criticism surrounding the event, the Greek swimmer walked away with a reward of $250,000 and an additional $1 million bonus for breaking the unofficial world record.
Speaking after the race, Gkolomeev described the financial reward as life changing and said the money would greatly help him and his family. He also revealed plans to return next year in hopes of lowering the time even further.
The Enhanced Games organisers stated that most of the 42 athletes who participated used performance enhancing substances and claimed that 13 athletes managed to record personal best performances during the competition. The event itself was held before an invited crowd of around 2,500 spectators, with tickets not available to the general public.
In athletics, former American world champion Fred Kerley won the men’s 100 metres in 9.97 seconds. Kerley competed without using banned substances and although he secured victory, his time remained slower than his personal best of 9.76 seconds.
British swimmer Ben Proud also impressed during the event by winning the men’s 50 metre butterfly in 22.32 seconds. The performance came just 0.05 seconds short of the official world record held by Ukrainian swimmer Andrii Govorov. Despite narrowly missing the mark, Proud’s swim was faster than his previous British record and personal best.
Another British swimmer, Emily Barclay, won the women’s 50 metre freestyle in 24.09 seconds, while Icelandic strongman Hafthor Bjornsson competed in weightlifting but failed to surpass his own deadlift world record of 510 kilograms.
Organisers of the Enhanced Games insist that all substances used by athletes are legal and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. These substances include testosterone, anabolic steroids, peptides and growth hormones, all of which remain banned in official international sport.
Supporters of the competition argue that enhancement has always existed secretly in elite sport and believe that allowing athletes to compete openly under medical supervision creates a safer and more transparent environment. However, sporting bodies around the world strongly disagree.
World Aquatics condemned the event as a circus built on shortcuts, while World Athletics president Sebastian Coe criticised athletes participating in the Games. The IOC and Wada also described the concept as dangerous, irresponsible and immoral.
The Enhanced Games were founded in 2023 by entrepreneurs Aron D’Souza and Maximilian Martin and have attracted support from high profile investors including Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr..
While organisers predicted several world records would fall during the event, Gkolomeev’s swim became the defining moment of the competition and has now intensified the global conversation about fairness, safety and the future of elite sport.
