Swimmer Gkolomeev ‘Breaks’ Record At Drug-Fueled Enhanced Games

Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev was the only athlete to "beat" a world record at the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas on Sunday, winning the men's 50m freestyle at the divisive event where competitors were allowed to take performance-enhancing substances that have sparked health concerns.

His time of 20.81sec -- which is not considered official -- came in the final event of the night, sparing the blushes of organizers who had predicted that multiple world records would be surpassed due to an open and sophisticated doping regime.

Gkolomeev, who was also wearing a synthetic "supersuit" long banned at events such as the Olympics, went faster than Australia's Cameron McEvoy's mark of 20.88 set in March.

"It was a great race... I got it," said Gkolomeev, who pocketed a $1 million bonus for the unofficial record.

"I'm going to continue. Maybe next year I'll break it again."

The Enhanced Games have been denounced as dangerous by athletics governing bodies, who said they would not recognize records set at the event.

But participants, lured by prize money of up to $1 million for surpassing world records, and $250,000 for event wins, included Olympic medallist swimmers James Magnussen, Cody Miller and Ben Proud.

Gkolomeev earlier clocked 46.60sec in the 100m freestyle, admitting he was frustrated to come "very close" to the world record of 46.40 held by China's Pan Zhanle.

Britain's Ben Proud, who took multiple substances, won the men's 50m butterfly in 22.32sec, just 0.05 off the world mark.

"We all know what we came for. And that's world records. And so to be that agonizingly close, it's frustrating," said the Paris 2024 silver medallist.

While the vast majority of the 42 competing sprinters, swimmers and weightlifters were taking typically banned substances such as testosterone and anabolic steroids, the handful who opted to compete clean also achieved wins.

The day's first swimming event was won by an athlete who chose not to dope. Hunter Armstrong won the men's 50m backstroke in 24.21sec, defeating two rivals on performance-enhancing drugs.

And "unenhanced" sprinters Fred Kerley, of the United States, and Tristan Evelyn, of Barbados, won the 100m sprints. Kerley ran 9.97sec in the men's, while Evelyn achieved 11.25 in the women's.

"Man, they got to do better than that. They need to train a little harder. Get on that shit a little bit more," joked Kerley, a former 100m world champion who is serving a suspension for missing drug tests.

- 'Quite a few' -

Weightlifter Beatriz Piron of the Dominican Republic, who reportedly "beat" a world record in training, attempted to get the Games off with a bang by lifting the same 100kg in the women's snatch -- but narrowly failed.

It set a pattern that repeated throughout most of the night.

Canada's Boady Santavy and US lifter Wesley Kitts attempted record men's snatch lifts of 183kg and 197kg respectively, but fell short -- despite organizers bending the rules to give each a fourth attempt.

"I hit a lot of PRs in training. Not 197 yet... Man, if I had about four more weeks (in training) I'd say I'd have had a good shot at it," said Kitts.

Hafthor "Thor" Bjornsson, best known for playing "The Mountain" in "Game of Thrones," could not quite break his own deadlift record of 510kg.

US swimmer Miller rolled back the years to win the 50m men's breaststroke, telling the crowd he was delighted to shave "seven-tenths off my personal best at 34" -- though his time of 26.55 did not threaten Adam Peaty's 25.95 world record.

Britain's Emily Barclays won the women's 50m freestyle in 24.09, around half a second slower than the world record.

Billionaire Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr were among the investors for the event, which took place at a lavish purpose-built arena in a Las Vegas casino parking lot.

Health experts warned that several of the substances being taken could risk "life-shortening and fatal consequences," including heart, liver and kidney issues, as so little is known about the long-term effects of doping.

Enhanced Games officials said all medications were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Parent company Enhanced sells many of the substances being taken by its athletes to the public.
-AFP