LAS VEGAS – The inaugural Enhanced Games, held recently in Las Vegas, concluded with a surprising lack of record-breaking performances, drawing sharp criticism from sports analysts and experts. Despite allowing athletes to openly use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) under medical supervision, many competitors reportedly posted times slower than their personal bests, with some track results even falling behind those of high school athletes. This outcome has fueled a broader debate about the efficacy of "hacking" human performance, as highlighted by author and coach Steve Magness.
The Enhanced Games, founded by Australian businessman Aron D'Souza and backed by investors including Peter Thiel, launched with the stated goal of pushing the boundaries of human achievement by embracing science and innovation. Unlike traditional sporting events, the Games explicitly permit the use of FDA-approved substances like testosterone, growth hormone, and anabolic steroids, challenging the anti-doping policies of organizations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Organizers aimed to usher in a "new era of elite competition" and redefine human potential.
However, the event's athletic results largely failed to meet the ambitious expectations. While Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev reportedly broke a "world record" in the 50m freestyle, this achievement was immediately questioned due to the use of banned super suits and timing controversies. More strikingly, track and field events saw athletes performing significantly below their peak, with some men's sprint times being slower than those recorded at high school state meets.
Steve Magness, a renowned performance coach and author, articulated this disappointment in a Quillette article, stating, "The Enhanced Games is a sports story. But more so it's the latest entry in a larger pattern: a tech culture that tries to convince us to 'hack' everything without really understanding what drives actual performance whatsoever." He noted that despite a "boatload of drugs," the event "didn't enhance much of anything," with many athletes running a half-second slower than their recent competitive seasons.
Magness's critique extends beyond the immediate results, suggesting the Games exemplify a "fallacy of the cult of optimisation." He argues that while drugs can play a role, they make a marginal difference compared to foundational elements like consistent training, work ethic, and natural talent. "What they neglected is that even with steroids, which absolutely work, in the grand scheme of things, they make a very small difference," Magness wrote, emphasizing that "excellence is mundane" and built on diligent, repetitive work.
Traditional sports bodies have largely condemned the Enhanced Games. WADA labeled the concept "dangerous and irresponsible," and the IOC called it a "betrayal of everything that we stand for," citing concerns over athlete health and fair play. The underwhelming performances in Las Vegas further intensify the discussion about the true pathways to elite athletic achievement and the ethical implications of encouraging performance-enhancing drug use.
