The Enhanced Games 2026 took place on 24/5 at Resorts World Las Vegas. Organizers described it as the first international sporting event at the intersection of elite sports and modern medical science, asserting that the use of performance-enhancing drugs could redefine the limits of the human body and change sports forever.

The event offered substantial prize money to attract athletes, with 250,000 USD for each champion and a 1 million USD bonus for breaking a world record. However, all achievements at the Enhanced Games would not be officially recognized.

Enhanced Games CEO Maximilian Martin bows to Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev after the athlete set a world record at the Enhanced Games on 24/5. Photo: AP

As reported by the Guardian (UK), the event did not unfold as expected. It was not until the final event, which lasted over five hours, that the games could claim to have surpassed an official world record. Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev completed the men's 50m freestyle in 20.81 seconds, 0.07 seconds faster than the time set by Australian athlete Cameron McEvoy in March.

This achievement was not officially recognized because Gkolomeev used a high-tech swimsuit, banned in elite sports, and also used doping. Despite this, Enhanced Games CEO Maximilian Martin celebrated enthusiastically, declaring victory over skeptics.

"We have entered the mainstream culture. We are here to stay. Tonight, we changed the world," Martin emphasized.

The Enhanced Games were announced in 2023 with many shocking statements about legalizing doping in sports. However, the actual results fell short of expectations. Notably, while most of the 42 athletes participating in sprints, swimming, and weightlifting were reportedly using testosterone, EPO, or anabolic steroids, three athletes who did not use banned substances still won.

US track and field star Fred Kerley, a silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, won the men's 100m with 9.97 seconds, then mocked his competitors: "They need to try harder. Maybe they need a little more drugs." This performance was still far from the 9.58-second mark set by legendary Usain Bolt in Berlin in August 2009.

Meanwhile, Tristan Evelyn, an athlete from Barbados who stated she did not use doping, won the women's 100m gold with a time of 11.25 seconds, commenting: "This shows that victory doesn't just come from chemicals."

This message was clearly not what the organizers intended to convey. Between events, large screens continuously announced the percentage of athletes using performance-enhancing drugs: "90.5% used testosterone ester, 78.6% growth hormone, 61.9% stimulants, and 40.5% EPO."

Kerley and Evelyn each received 250,000 USD in prize money. The remaining "clean" athlete in the competition, Hunter Armstrong of Australia, also earned the same amount after winning the men's 50m backstroke.

Before Gkolomeev set the record at the end of the program, an atmosphere of disappointment overshadowed the Enhanced Games as numerous attempts to break world records failed.

Icelandic strongman Thor Bjornsson, a star from the "Game of Thrones" series, also failed to surpass his personal deadlift record of 510 kg. Despite his efforts after inhaling smelling salts to boost his spirit, he was unable to lift the barbell past his knees.

Organizers initially hoped Dominican weightlifter Beatriz Piron would make an explosive start with a 100 kg snatch to break the current women's world record in her weight class. However, she failed, as did many other athletes.

The event became more controversial as organizers repeatedly disregarded traditional competition standards. After Canadian weightlifter Boady Santavy failed all three attempts to lift a weight higher than the world record, the MC surprisingly announced he would get another chance. The atmosphere was likened to a school sports day—a failure, but with a "re-do." Despite the extra chance, Santavy still did not succeed.

Canadian weightlifter Boady Santavy expresses disappointment after a failed lift at the Enhanced Games, where organizers still granted him an additional attempt. Photo: AP

Between competitions, large screens continuously played music, interviewed athletes, and promoted the event's image. British swimmer Ben Proud, who earned 375,000 USD after winning the 50m butterfly and placing second in the 50m freestyle, admitted he saw the Enhanced Games as a lottery win. "I thought I could change my life with this competition. And here I am," Proud stated.

His girlfriend, Emily Barclay, a former British national champion in 2019 who had never competed in the Olympics, also received 375,000 USD after winning the women's 50m freestyle and placing second in the 100m.

Despite the disappointing professional results, CEO Maximilian Martin affirmed that the Enhanced Games would return next year on a larger scale. "Tonight we hoped for a few more world records, but live sports are always unpredictable," he said.

Organizers reported that approximately 250,000 people watched the event live on YouTube. However, it remains unclear how many of them actually purchased the supplements and testosterone creams advertised on the Enhanced Games website.