Enhanced Games: despite authorized doping, only swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev achieves a faster performance than a world record

The Greek swimmer broke the 50m freestyle world record on Sunday in Las Vegas (United States) during a competition where doping substances are allowed, as well as wearing polyurethane suits.

The one-million-dollar prize for any performance better than a world record is not likely to be awarded often. At the Enhanced Games, a controversial sports competition where doping is allowed, only Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev managed to surpass a world record on Sunday, May 24 in Las Vegas (United States). The Greek swimmer completed the 50m freestyle in 20.81 seconds, faster than Australian Cameron McEvoy’s time of 20.88 seconds.

However, his performance will not be officially recognized because at the Enhanced Games, athletes are allowed to use doping substances and wear full-body polyurethane suits that are banned in official competitions. In the final event of the day, including athletics, swimming, and weightlifting, Kristian Gkolomeev saved the organizers from the embarrassment of multiple world records being broken as predicted.

“It was a great race… I did it,” said Gkolomeev. “I will continue. Maybe next year, I will beat it again.” The vast majority of participants, including Olympic medalists James Magnussen, Cody Miller, and Ben Proud, were able to use testosterone, growth hormone, peptides, anabolic steroids, and other prohibited substances. These “Enhanced Games” have been criticized as dangerous by global sports authorities, who stated that they would not recognize any records set during this event.