The first Enhanced Games, a competition allowing performance-enhancing drugs, concluded with a mixed outcome. While Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev set an unofficial world record in the 50-meter freestyle, several non-enhanced athletes triumphed in headline events, undercutting the event's central premise.
American sprinter Fred Kerley, competing clean, won the men's 100-meter final in 9.97 seconds. He mocked his enhanced rivals, saying, "They need to train a little harder, get on that shit a little bit more." Tristan Evelyn also won the women's 100-meter final as a non-enhanced athlete, and swimmer Hunter Armstrong beat two enhanced competitors in the men's 50-meter backstroke.
Weightlifting produced dramatic performances linked to drug use. Organizers, including founder Aron D'Souza and investor Christian Angermayer, hailed the event as a business success and a step toward a future where anti-doping rules are obsolete. Backed by notable figures like Donald Trump Jr. and Peter Thiel, the Games are framed by proponents as part of a broader biohacking and longevity movement.
Critics, including the World Anti-Doping Agency, have rejected the competition's legitimacy, arguing it normalizes dangerous drug use for profit.