Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev earned a $1 million (€860,000) bonus at the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas on Sunday by swimming the 50-meter freestyle faster than the official world record, clocking 20.81 seconds.
The 32-year-old, who failed to win a medal in four Olympics, beat Australian Cameron McEvoy's real world record of 20.88 seconds set at the Chinese Swimming Open in March. The Enhanced Games, as its name suggests, allows athletes to take performance-enhancing substances banned in mainstream competitions.
World sporting authorities have denounced the event as dangerous and say any new records will not be officially recognized. Global swimming body World Aquatics described it as a "circus, built on short-cuts." Gkolomeev, who also wore a synthetic "supersuit" long banned at the Olympics, said: "Great race. I had a lot of fun. This is amazing."
Participants at the Enhanced Games get a $1 million bonus for beating world records and $250,000 for winning events. According to organizers, 38 of the 42 participants doped under medical supervision over eight weeks, taking banned substances such as testosterone and other steroids.
Organizers had predicted multiple world records would be broken, but that failed to materialize by Sunday night. British silver Olympic medalist Ben Proud, who took multiple substances, won the men's 50-meter butterfly in 22.32, just 0.05 over the record time. German swimmer Marius Kusch received €250,000 for winning the 100-meter butterfly, beating his personal best by 0.07 seconds.
In athletics, American former world champion Fred Kerley won the 100 meters in 9.97 seconds, a time that would have placed him last at the Paris Olympics two years ago. Kerley, who claimed to be drug-free, had predicted Usain Bolt's 17-year-old world record of 9.58 seconds would get "destroyed."
Health experts have warned that several substances being taken by athletes could risk "life-shortening and fatal consequences." Enhanced Games officials, however, said all medications were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Parent company Enhanced sells many of the substances to the public and argues banning such drugs stifles athletes' potential. Billionaire Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr were among the investors for the event.
Source: www.dw.com