The Enhanced Games staged its first event in a Las Vegas casino car park, awarding Kristian Gkolomeev one million dollars for a 50-metre freestyle time that shaved 0.07 seconds off the mark held by Cameron McEvoy. American sprinter Fred Kerley collected 250,000 dollars for winning the 100 metres in 9.97 seconds. The results carry no standing with World Aquatics or World Athletics because the competition permits substances and equipment banned by those bodies.
Format and incentives
Organisers framed the programme as an alternative to traditional meets. Athletes receive fixed prize money for victories and separate bonuses for record performances, regardless of whether the times are recognised elsewhere. Gkolomeev had already collected a similar one-million-dollar payment last year for an earlier swim under the same rules. The structure concentrates financial reward on the single event rather than on season-long rankings or Olympic medals.
Regulatory response
World Aquatics described the event as a circus built on shortcuts. The governing body pays record bonuses only for performances achieved in its own sanctioned competitions, so McEvoy received nothing for the mark set in China. WADA and other federations have warned that participation can trigger competition bans and carries health risks. The Enhanced Games maintains that current anti-doping rules limit performance without adequately protecting athletes.
Audience and setting
No tickets were sold. Roughly 2,000 spectators, mostly family members and friends of competitors, attended alongside about 300 social-media influencers. The meet took place outdoors in high temperatures. Kerley criticised repeated false starts that delayed the sprint final, noting that only he broke 10 seconds. Observers on social media questioned the quality of the field compared with standard elite meetings.
Future participation
Gkolomeev said the payout would help his family and indicated he may return next year. The organisers have not disclosed entry numbers or funding sources for subsequent editions. Athletes who accept the terms accept both the immediate cash awards and the possibility of sanctions from traditional sporting bodies that continue to enforce existing anti-doping codes.
