Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev has made headlines after reportedly breaking two long-standing 50m freestyle records while preparing for the controversial Enhanced Games — an event that promotes the use of performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision.
Organisers claim Gkolomeev swam 20.89 seconds during a time trial in North Carolina in February 2025, eclipsing Cesar Cielo’s 2009 world record by 0.02 seconds.
The 31-year-old was wearing a banned full-length polyurethane “supersuit” during the swim.
In April 2025, he clocked 21.03 seconds in textile shorts, surpassing Caeleb Dressel’s record for the fastest non-supersuit time.
Though neither time is recognised by World Aquatics, Enhanced Games officials say both swims were conducted with Olympic-standard timing, at a certified pool, and under the supervision of experienced officials.
Gkolomeev began using banned substances after joining the Enhanced Games in January this year.
“The Enhanced Games gave me the resources and the team to unlock a new level of performance—and now the whole world can see what’s possible,” said Gkolomeev, who previously won European gold and a world silver medal in the 50m freestyle.
He added that between his February and April swims, he underwent a two-month doping cycle, gaining 10 pounds of lean muscle.
“We did a pretty good job with my coach in that short amount of time to get used to my new strength and weight in the water. It was a very good result,” he said.
Gkolomeev received a $1 million prize for surpassing the record.
The Enhanced Games—set to debut in Las Vegas in May 2026—has been widely condemned by anti-doping bodies, including WADA and USADA, for endangering athletes and undermining fair play.
The event is backed by venture capitalists, including Donald Trump Jr and Peter Thiel, and will initially feature sprinting, swimming and weightlifting.
Despite criticism, the Games have recruited other high-profile athletes, including Ukraine’s Andrii Govorov and Bulgaria’s Josif Miladinov. Gkolomeev’s involvement is seen as a major coup for the organisers, who have faced skepticism about attracting elite talent.
Gkolomeev, born in Bulgaria and raised in Greece, has had a successful international career. He represented Greece at four Olympic Games, finishing fifth in both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and recently won the 2024 European title in Belgrade.
Source: BBC.
