Enhanced Games claims former Olympic swimmer broke two world records ahead of controversial launch
The controversial organisation, which has been financed by a venture capital fund backed by Donald Trump Jr and billionaire Peter Thiel since it was founded by Australian entrepreneur and lawyer Aron D'Souza in 2023, announced on Wednesday its inaugural Enhanced Games would take place in Las Vegas in May 2026. Moments later, it said Gkolomeev had broken the long-standing 50m freestyle world record of 20.91, set by Brazilian Cesar Cielo in 2009.
Gkolomeev, 31, finished fifth in the event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In January, he began taking performance-enhancing drugs and started receiving coaching from Australian Brett Hawke, who worked with Cielo when he set the world record.
The Enhanced Games said Gkolomeev had become the 'fastest swimmer in history' by posting a time of 20.89s in a 50m freestyle time trial. He recorded the time in a full-length polyurethane suit, banned weeks after Cielo set the world record while wearing one. It then claimed Gkolomeev — now wearing 'jammers', shorts which comply with World Aquatics' regulations — had also broken American Caeleb Dressel's world record under current regulations (21.04s) set in 2019.
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Gkolomeev earned a $1,000,000 bonus by setting the time, beating 34-year-old Australian James Magnussen to the prize money. The former world champion came out of retirement to begin his involvement with the Enhanced Games last year, finishing second with a time of 22.73s.
Gkolomeev said the Enhanced Games gave him the opportunity to 'unlock a new level of performance', adding he gained 'an extra 10lbs of lean muscle' which meant he had to get used to his 'new strength and weight in the water'. The Enhanced Games did not disclose what drugs were used for personal confidentiality reasons and to avoid potential unsupervised usage, but said substances were prescribed 'medically and legally.'
🏆 FASTEST SWIMMER IN HISTORY
🇬🇷🇧🇬 Kristian Gkolomeev breaks:🏊♂️ 50m Freestyle World Record⏱️ 20.89 seconds💰 $1,000,000 Prize
🇧🇷 Breaks Cesar Cielo's 2009 record (20.91) pic.twitter.com/u0p3139TdG
— Enhanced Games (@enhanced_games) May 21, 2025
Ukrainian 33-year-old Andrii Govorov, the 50m butterfly world record holder, also joined the Enhanced Games, alongside Bulgarian Josif Miladinov, 21.
The Enhanced Games has previously made its stance clear that it is 'separate and independent from the Olympics, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and the USOPC (United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee),' but has attracted criticism from several high-profile bodies.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in March described the Enhanced Games as a 'dangerous and irresponsible project,' which 'jeopardizes' the health and well-being of its athletes. Meanwhile, Travis Tygart — CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) — told CNN the Enhanced Games is a 'clown show' and 'not real sport.'
Brent J. Nowicki, executive director of World Aquatics and a former managing counsel and head of the antidoping division at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, told the New York Times the Enhanced Games are 'a farce, and an extremely dangerous one.'
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'My view is that anybody who takes part in this event should never be allowed to be involved in any sport ever again,' he said. 'It cuts against everything that we are trying to prevent.'
The Athletic has contacted the Enhanced Games and World Aquatics for comment.
The 2026 Enhanced Games in Las Vegas are set to be hosted across three days with swimming, track and field and weightlifting events. It is incentivising potential participants with the promise that 'those who set new enhanced world records (are) eligible for million-dollar prizes'. More prize categories are due to be announced 'in the coming months.'
'Athletes can choose to compete as natural or enhanced, and may continue to be WADA compliant,' the organizers add. 'It is their choice — as it should be.'
(Photo of Kristian Gkolomeev at the Paris Games in 2024, Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)
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