Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev collected a $1 million bonus and $250,000 in prize money for a 50-metre freestyle swim at an Enhanced Games event held in a Las Vegas casino car park on Sunday. American sprinter Fred Kerley earned $250,000 for winning the 100 metres. The results will not be recognised by global sporting authorities because they were achieved under conditions that violate anti-doping rules.
Event Format and Payout Structure
The Enhanced Games explicitly permits athletes to use substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and to wear polyurethane suits prohibited since 2010. Organisers awarded the $1 million bonus for Gkolomeev’s time of 20.81 seconds, which organisers claimed beat the official world record. The same athlete received a $1 million payment last year for a slightly slower performance under similar conditions. Kerley’s winning time of 9.97 seconds fell well short of his personal best, and only he broke the 10-second barrier in the final.
Official Reactions and Record Status
World Aquatics described the event as a “circus, built on short-cuts.” Official world records remain those set under its sanctioned competitions, where clean athletes receive no comparable financial reward. Cameron McEvoy, holder of the recognised 50-metre freestyle record, has noted that his achievement carried no monetary bonus from the governing body. The Enhanced Games results therefore exist only within the event’s own framework and carry no standing in international competition.
Audience and Commercial Context
No tickets were sold for the event. Attendance consisted mainly of family members, friends of competitors, and approximately 300 social media influencers. The setting in a casino car park placed the competition in a commercial environment where large cash prizes could attract attention, yet the limited spectator numbers reflected the event’s marginal status within mainstream sport. Sporting authorities continue to warn that participation risks competition bans and health consequences for athletes.
