A 'clean' swimmer has taken home gold at the controversial Enhanced Games, outperforming competitors who openly used performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). The event, held on May 24-25 in Las Vegas, allowed athletes to use legal substances under medical supervision. American swimmer Hunter Armstrong won the men's 50m backstroke with a time of 24.21 seconds, earning $250,000 in prize money, despite not taking any PEDs. He finished ahead of Sohib Khaled and Shane Ryan, who had used legal substances. Armstrong also secured silver in the 100m freestyle, again without enhancement.
World Record Attempts and Victories
Greece's Kristian Gkolomeev became the only athlete to break a world record at the games, though his time will not be officially recognized. The 32-year-old clocked 20.81 seconds in the men's 50m freestyle, surpassing the previous record of 20.88 set by Australia's Cameron McEvoy in March. Despite the lack of formal recognition, Gkolomeev received $250,000 for his win plus a $1 million bonus for the unofficial record. 'This is going to change my life for the good, for sure,' he said. 'It's a big help for me and my family. Maybe I'll break it again next year.'
British Swimmer Ben Proud's Performance
British swimmer Ben Proud, who won silver in the 50m freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics, took first place in the 50m butterfly at 22.32 seconds. This was just 0.05 seconds shy of another unofficial world record and faster than the official British record. Proud expressed frustration: 'We all know what we came for. And that's world records. And so to be that agonizingly close, it's frustrating.'
Other Clean Victories and Drug Policies
Armstrong wasn't the only clean winner. American former world champion Fred Kerley won the men's 100m in 9.97 seconds, close to his personal best of 9.76. Drugs used at the Enhanced Games must be legal and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Athletes used substances like testosterone, growth hormone, peptides, and anabolic steroids, all banned in traditional sports. Organizers argue that many athletes secretly use enhancers anyway, and allowing open use makes competitions safer. However, sporting bodies including the IOC and WADA have branded the games 'immoral,' 'dangerous,' and 'irresponsible.' World Athletics president Lord Coe called participants 'moronic.' The games have gained attention and backing from entrepreneurs and investors, including billionaire Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr.
