At the heart of the Enhanced Games, Australia’s James Magnussen secured his place in the final rankings after finishing last in the 100m freestyle event. With a time of 49.44 seconds, he narrowly escaped his own performance-enhancing drug regimen—his first in over two years—to compete in the inaugural race. Despite the risk, Magnussen was no match for Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev, who won in 46.6 seconds, only 0.2 seconds behind Pan Zhanle’s world record. Gkolomeev will take home $US250,000, while Magnussen retains his $50,000 prize. He is set to compete again in the 50m freestyle next week, which begins shortly after 2pm AEST. Magnussen wore a special gold suit after signing on as the first athlete for the event two years ago, hoping to secure a $US1 million bonus if he beats Cam McEvoy’s official world record of 20.88 seconds. If anyone beats McEvoy’s time, it would be a world record, though swimmers are often aided by banned substances or specially made suits that give them an edge. Armstrong, the clean swimmer from the U.S., has already won the men’s 50m backstroke event, securing $US250,000 in addition to $125,000 from a second-place finish. His victory marks a significant financial win despite ongoing drug tests. The new sporting event, which faced criticism for being “utterly irresponsible and immoral,” began abruptly after a technical issue on Sunday, leading to a small win when Armstrong edged out Shane Ryan. The two-time Olympian signed on due to financial difficulties after his sponsor cut him during the Paris Olympics. His latest success has boosted his earnings beyond traditional competition, as he plans to compete at a home Olympics in 2028. Events to watch include the Women’s 100m sprint round one at 11:21am AEST, James Magnussen’s 100m freestyle, and the Men’s 50m butterfly with Andrii Govorov. World Aquatics has threatened to exclude any athlete associated with the Enhanced Games from major competitions like the Olympics. Armstrong expressed satisfaction with his recent smooth performance, citing the “game-changing” suit. He also mentioned gaining $US125,000 from another win. Other athletes like Fred Kerley, a former world record holder, are expected to compete in the 100m sprint later on, eyeing Usain Bolt’s record. Tyga, a popular rapper, is attending the event. Medical professionals warn about long-term effects of such substances.
