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Inaugural Enhanced Games Concludes in Las Vegas with One Unofficial World Record

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The First Enhanced Games: A New Era in Competitive Sport?

"This is going to change my life to the good for sure." — Kristian Gkolomeev, after breaking a world record that won't be recognized.

The first Enhanced Games—a privately funded sporting event permitting performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision—took place on March 9, 2025, at Resorts World Las Vegas. The event featured 42 athletes, primarily in swimming, track, and weightlifting, most of whom used substances typically banned by mainstream sports organizations.

Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev set a time faster than the official world record in the men's 50m freestyle, though the mark will not be ratified due to the use of banned substances and non-regulation equipment.

Event Details and Participants

The competition was organized by Aron D'Souza and backed by investors including Peter Thiel, Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital, Christian Angermayer, Balaji Srinivasan, the Winklevoss twins, and Saudi prince Khaled bin Alwaleed Al Saud.

The event offered a total prize pool of $25 million, with $250,000 for first place in each event and a $1 million bonus for breaking a world record in the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle.

Athletes competed across:

  • Swimming: 50m and 100m freestyle and butterfly
  • Track: 100m sprint, 100m/110m hurdles
  • Weightlifting: Clean and jerk, snatch
  • Strongman: Deadlift

The event hosted approximately 2,500 spectators.

Drug Use Policy

Organizers stated that 36 of the 42 athletes (90.5%) participated in a clinical trial under medical supervision, administered by an independent medical board and overseen by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health.

According to data released by organizers:

  • 90.5% used testosterone or testosterone esters
  • 79% used human growth hormone
  • 62% used stimulants
  • 50% used metabolic modulators
  • 41% used EPO
  • 29% used anabolic steroid agents

Organizers stated that all substances used complied with FDA regulations. Some athletes, including American sprinter Fred Kerley and swimmers Hunter Armstrong and Cody Miller, reportedly did not use performance-enhancing drugs while competing.

Key Results

Swimming Events

  • Men's 50m freestyle: Kristian Gkolomeev (Greece) finished in 20.81 seconds, 0.07 seconds faster than Cameron McEvoy's official world record of 20.88. The time will not be ratified due to banned substances and a "supersuit" prohibited by World Aquatics since 2009. Gkolomeev received $350,000 for the win plus a $1.4 million bonus for beating McEvoy's time.

  • Men's 100m freestyle: Gkolomeev won in 46.6 seconds, 0.2 seconds outside Pan Zhanle's official world record of 46.40.

  • Men's 50m butterfly: Ben Proud (Great Britain) won in 22.32 seconds, 0.05 seconds off the world record.

  • Men's 50m backstroke: Hunter Armstrong (USA), competing as a "clean athlete," won in 24.21 seconds.

  • Women's 50m freestyle: Emily Barclay won in 24.09 seconds, approximately half a second slower than the world record.

Track Events

  • Men's 100m sprint: Fred Kerley (USA), competing clean, won in 9.97 seconds, short of his personal best of 9.76 and Usain Bolt's world record of 9.58.

  • Women's 100m sprint: Tristan Evelyn, competing clean, won in 11.25 seconds.

Weightlifting

  • Athletes attempted but did not break world records in snatch or deadlift events. Strongman Hafthor Bjornsson did not surpass his deadlift record of 510 kg.

Athlete Remarks

Kristian Gkolomeev: "Another million, I'm going to say it's not bad at all. This is going to change my life to the good for sure."

Ben Proud: "We all know what we came for. And that's world records. And so, to be that agonizingly close, it's frustrating."

Fred Kerley, regarding other competitors: "They need to train a little harder and go a little harder some more. ... A lot of people don't want to run the heats. They've got to do better than that."

James Magnussen, who finished last in both freestyle events: "This is going to be one of the biggest brands in the world."

Reactions and Criticism

The event has faced sharp criticism from sports governing bodies and medical professionals.

The International Olympic Committee and WADA issued a joint statement calling the event "irresponsible and immoral." WADA President Witold Banka urged U.S. authorities to block the event. USADA CEO Travis Tygart described it as a "dangerous clown show." World Aquatics has threatened to ban any participant from its events.

Medical experts, including sports cardiologist Aaron Baggish, warned that FDA approval of substances does not equate to safe use outside approved parameters, and that high doses of testosterone are linked to increased risk of heart disease. Sports science professor Ian Boardley warned of potential life-shortening health risks from anabolic steroids.

Business Model

The Enhanced Games achieved a billion-dollar valuation before the first event, based on investor expectations that it can become a direct-to-consumer peptide and telehealth business.

The organization spent approximately $20 million to build the temporary arena, including $6.6 million for a 50-meter pool and $2 million for a six-lane track. The event was projected to lose tens of millions of dollars; media rights and all 2,500 tickets were provided at no cost.

The Enhanced Games website sells supplements including peptides and testosterone.

Timing Controversy

Following the event, some observers questioned the timing of Gkolomeev's 20.81-second swim, noting that the clock appeared to display the time before his touch. An Enhanced Games spokesperson stated that timing was handled by Primetime Timing, described as an ISO-certified system used in other international events, and that meet administration officials from USA Swimming were on site to verify the system. The spokesperson dismissed the allegations as "completely unfounded internet drivel."

Future Events

Enhanced Games CEO Max Martin stated that the event "has arrived in mainstream culture" and that the Games would return the following year, while acknowledging that expectations for multiple world records were not met.

The event's live YouTube stream attracted approximately 250,000 viewers.