Some Non-Enhanced Athletes Beat Their Juiced Rivals at the 'Steroid Olympics'
The first Enhanced Games featured both record-breaking and disappointing results, challenging the notion that performance-enhancing drugs would dramatically surpass natural athletic achievement. Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev swam a 50-meter freestyle faster than the official world record, winning $1 million. However, in several marquee events, non-enhanced athletes won over enhanced ones, including American sprinter Fred Kerley, who won the men’s 100-meter final, and Tristan Evelyn, who won the women’s 100-meter final over enhanced competitors. The Enhanced Games, founded in 2024 by Aron D’Souza and backed by notable Silicon Valley figures, position themselves as a science-forward alternative to traditional anti-doping competitions, reflecting biohacking and optimization trends. Despite some impressive performances, critics argue the event promotes unsafe practices and note that some enhanced athletes performed worse than expected. Major sporting bodies refuse to recognize records from the Enhanced Games. Organizers remain optimistic, claiming the event’s business success marks just the beginning for their new athletic model.
