Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev set a blistering 20.81 seconds in the men's 50m freestyle at the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas, surpassing Australian Cameron McEvoy's official world record of 20.88 seconds. However, the time will not be recognized by global sporting authorities because the event allows athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs.
The 32-year-old competed in a polyurethane suit—banned in official competitions—and earned $250,000 (approx. £185,000) for his victory, plus a $1 million bonus for the unofficial record. "It's going to change my life for sure," Gkolomeev said. "Maybe I'll break it again next year."
The Enhanced Games, condemned by the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency, featured 42 athletes in swimming, athletics, and weightlifting. Most used legal but banned-in-sport substances such as testosterone and anabolic steroids. Organizers argue that such enhancement already exists secretly in elite sports.
On the track, American Fred Kerley won the men's 100m in 9.97 seconds—well short of his best. British swimmer Ben Proud won the 50m butterfly in 22.32 seconds, just 0.05 seconds off the world record. Weightlifter Hafthor Bjornsson, known for his role in Game of Thrones, failed to break his deadlift record.