Kristian Gkolomeev Swims Faster Than World Record, But It Won’t Count: Enhanced Games Ensues

Last Updated:May 25, 2026, 11:17 IST

Kristian Gkolomeev swam faster than the official 50m freestyle world record at the Enhanced Games, where doping is allowed — but the mark will not count.

Kristian Gkolomeev produced the headline moment at the controversial Enhanced Games in Las Vegas on Sunday, swimming faster than the official men’s 50m freestyle world record.

The Greek swimmer clocked 20.81 seconds in the 50m freestyle, beating the recognised world record of 20.88 set just two months ago by Cameron McEvoy.

But the performance will not enter the official record books.

That is because the Enhanced Games openly permit the use of performance-enhancing drugs, substances banned in mainstream sport, while athletes are also allowed to compete in previously banned “supersuits."

Gkolomeev’s swim was the only “world record" performance across four hours of competition that included swimming, athletics and weightlifting.

The event has positioned itself as an alternative version of elite sport, arguing athletes should have the freedom to use scientific and medical enhancements under supervision. Critics, however, have heavily condemned the concept over safety and integrity concerns.

Kerley’s Bold Prediction Falls Flat

While Gkolomeev delivered the standout moment in the pool, the track events produced far more chaos than history-making performances.

Fred Kerley won the men’s 100m in 9.97 seconds — a respectable time, but nowhere near the historic mark he had predicted beforehand.

Kerley had boldly claimed that Usain Bolt’s legendary 9.58-second world record would get “destroyed" at the Enhanced Games.

Instead, his winning time would actually have placed him last in the final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he won bronze.

The race itself turned messy before it even properly began. Sprinters had to be reset in the starting blocks four separate times because of false starts and untied shoes.

Big Money Driving Participation

Despite the criticism surrounding the event, the financial incentives on offer have attracted athletes from multiple sports.

Competitors are reportedly guaranteed base salaries, while winners receive prize money worth $250,000. Additional bonuses are also available for athletes who surpass recognised world-record marks.

For many participants, including Australian swimmer James Magnussen and others previously linked with the project, the financial rewards appear to outweigh the controversy surrounding the competition’s open-doping model.

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