A world record was broken in Las Vegas this weekend — but don’t expect it to appear in the official history books anytime soon.
Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev became the only athlete at the controversial Enhanced Games to beat a recognised world record.
He clocked 20.81 seconds in the men’s 50m freestyle.
That’s faster than the official mark set earlier this year by Cameron McEvoy. There’s a catch, though: the performance won’t count.
Why? Because the Enhanced Games openly allow athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs banned in traditional sport.
Think Olympics — but with the rulebook ripped up.
Gkolomeev also wore a polyurethane swimsuit banned in official competitions, adding fuel to an already explosive debate.
Organisers handed him $1m for the unofficial record, plus another $250,000 for winning the race. “This is going to change my life,” he said afterward.
Sport Enhancement Debate Grows
The event featured swimming, athletics, and weightlifting, with many competitors reportedly using substances like testosterone and anabolic steroids under medical supervision.
Supporters argue elite sport already operates in a grey area — the Enhanced Games simply bring it into the open. Critics are horrified.
World Aquatics called the event a “circus built on shortcuts,” while IOC officials labelled the concept “dangerous and irresponsible.”
Still, the crowds came. Records fell. And sport’s oldest question returned louder than ever.
Where exactly is the line between human achievement and human enhancement?
