By Tom Decent
A Greek swimmer has beaten the men’s 50m freestyle world record while taking performance-enhancing drugs – and has been paid $US1 million ($1.56 million) – in the first official act of the controversial Enhanced Games.
Kristian Gkolomeev, who raced against Australian Olympic champion Cam McEvoy in Paris last year, clocked 20.89 seconds in a solo behind-closed-doors sprint in February, eclipsing Cesar Cielo’s 2009 mark of 20.91 and smashing his own previous best of 21.44.
The Enhanced Games, which were launched on Wednesday (Thursday morning Australian time) at a lavish event in Las Vegas, revealed the result as part of a documentary released on YouTube.
The record-breaking swim – aided by undisclosed substances and a polyurethane suit not approved for Olympic use – was conducted under supervision at a pool in North Carolina and verified by officials who are certified by USA Swimming. It marks the first time a world record has been broken under a medically sanctioned doping model. World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA, does not recognise the record.
Australian Olympian James Magnussen, who trained for months using testosterone and peptides in pursuit of the same record, fell short with a best time of 22.73 – but has called on McEvoy, a clean athlete, to join him at next year’s inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas.
“If I was Cam and I was going to be able to put a suit on and race for $US1 million – plus be paid as an athlete – for me it would be a no-brainer,” Magnussen said in an exclusive interview.
Swimmer Kirstian Gkolomeev picks up his cheque for $US1 million after breaking the men’s 50m freestyle world record as part of an Enhanced Games documentary. Credit: Enhanced Games
“I get it. The Olympics is the pinnacle of our sport at the moment and it’s what we all strive towards. At this point for Cam, he sees it like a sideshow. People will realise that Enhanced Games is the real deal. It’s happening. It’s not just hypothetical. The money’s there. There will be a flood of athletes coming over in year two.”
After much speculation, the Enhanced Games – one of the most provocative and polarising sporting concepts in recent history – will take place from May 21-24 next year at Resorts World Las Vegas, with events in swimming, athletics, and weightlifting.
Gkolomeev’s dramatic world record was filmed for a new documentary also featuring Magnussen and former Australian swimmer Brett Hawke, who has signed on with the Enhanced Games after coaching the duo.
“The substances that Kristian used are designed to improve his health and quality of life. They are prescribed medically and legally,” organisers said in a statement.
Kristian Gkolomeev and James Magnussen training in the US for the Enhanced Games.
This masthead can reveal Magnussen, who has been retired for six years, was taking testosterone and peptides, among other substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
McEvoy, the fastest swimmer on the planet, has a best time of 21.06 in the one-lap dash.
Around 100 athletes are expected to compete, although organisers say names won’t be revealed until closer to the event.
Athletes can choose to remain “natural” or enhance their performance with substances – either independently or under the supervision of Enhanced Games medical staff.
The most controversial element is that clean athletes will be invited to compete for the same prizemoney.
Whether clean athletes will get clearance from sports’ governing bodies to compete at the Enhanced Games is an entirely different matter, given the concept has already been dismissed by the International Olympic Committee and other major sporting organisations.
“The Enhanced Games welcomes athletes across three categories: natural athletes, independently enhanced athletes, and athletes enhanced through protocols designed and supervised by our medical team,” read a statement.
“We live in a world transformed by science – from vaccines to AI,” said Enhanced Games founder and Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza. “But sport has stood still. Until today. We are not updating the rule book. We are re-writing it. And we’re doing it safely, ethically, and boldly.”
Gkolomeev’s swim was timed using an Omega system, with multiple angles captured on video.
“It was pretty crazy,” Hawke said. “The cash changed his life completely.”
Magnussen, a two-time individual world champion and Olympic silver medallist, said his “enhancements” resulted in him gaining significant weight, which had impacted his ability to swim fast.
Magnussen said the drugs had made a huge difference to his training.
“It all felt safe because I did it all with doctors and under medical supervision,” Magnussen said.
Australian Enhanced Games athlete James Magnussen. Credit: Enhanced Games
“It’s kind of annoying I did this big long preparation and didn’t get a super fast time at the end of it. I didn’t get a million bucks as well, which is annoying. I got a really good understanding of this process and how to train for it. I know how to change my preparation for the actual games.”
In year one, the Enhanced Games plans to pay $US250,000 for each gold medal and $US1 million to anyone who breaks a world record in the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle. Organisers say all athletes – clean or enhanced – will be paid appearance fees.
In swimming, there will be two freestyle events (50m and 100m) and two butterfly events (50m and 100m). In athletics, there will be 100m sprints and 100/100m hurdles depending on gender.
Australian coach Brett Hawke has signed on with the Enhanced Games. Credit: Enhanced Games
In the weightlifting event, athletes will lift in both the snatch and clean and jerk, with the combined weight lifted across the two disciplines deciding the winner.
There will be separate men’s and women’s events. Transgender athletes will not be allowed to compete.
Hawke, who guided Cielo to his original world record in 2009, said the project was forcing him to rethink everything he knows about the sport.
“I’ve never worked with anyone that’s on enhancements before, so I’m learning as I go,” Hawke said. “No one handed me a playbook and said, ‘Here’s how you train someone on drugs’.”
News of the Enhanced Games’ presence is likely to trigger widespread criticism given the potential health risks.
“There is no clear evidence that medically supervised performance-enhancing substances cause death,” the organisation said. “Human progress often involves risk, and elite sport is no exception.”
The event has been privately funded by rich investors, including Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal, and Donald Trump Jr.
With Magnussen already eyeing a second crack at the world record and the promise of life-changing prize money, the real test may soon be whether stars like McEvoy and other Australian swimmers are willing to follow.
