Enhanced Games claim we changed the world' but only one record broken and three clean athletes win

The inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas aimed to redefine human performance using performance-enhancing drugs and to change sport. Organizers expected multiple world records, but the event produced few results that could be recognized officially. The final event featured a faster 50m freestyle swim by Kristian Gkolomeev, clocked at 20.81 seconds, narrowly quicker than a prior official mark. The time did not count officially because he wore a skinsuit outlawed in elite sport and he was also doping. Despite this, the CEO celebrated the moment as proof the event had arrived in mainstream culture. Many athletes used banned substances such as testosterone, EPO, and anabolic steroids, while a few competitors who were clean still won events.

"Only in the final event of the night, after more than five hours of competition, could they lay claim to having gone quicker than an official world record as Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev swam 20.81sec in the men's 50m freestyle. That was just 0.08s quicker than the time set by the Australian Cameron McEvoy in March. But it allowed organisers to put a gloss on a night that was glitzy but lacked the excitement and records they had forecast."

"Of course Gkolomeev's record will not count officially, given that he was wearing a special skinsuit that is outlawed in elite sport and was also doping. But that didn't stop Enhanced Games' CEO Maximilian Martin bowing in relief at Gkolomeev's feet and claiming victory over the doubters. We have arrived in mainstream culture, Martin claimed. We are here to stay. We have changed the world tonight."

"Organisers have made several crazy claims ever since the Enhanced Games were launched in 2023. This, though, must surely count as the wildest. However Martin wasn't finished yet. With the power of enhancements we can prove we are the best we can ever think of and you are living proof of that, he told a passionate crowd of fitness influences and biotech investors. For the last three days Enhanced took over the internet. Enhanced is culture."

"While the vast majority of the 42 competing sprinters, swimmers and weightlifters were taking banned substances such as testosterone, EPO and anabolic steroids, three athletes who were competing clean also won. The Paris silver medallist Fred Kerley was especially spicy after winning the men's 100m, telling his rivals: Man, they need to do better than that."

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