Former Greek Olympian Kristian Gkolomeev went under the world record in the men’s 50 freestyle (LCM) during filming for the Enhanced Games’ documentary, as caught on video by Brett Hawke and posted to YouTube on Wednesday.
Gkolomeev, 31, fired off a time of 20.89, dipping under the 16-year-old super-suited world record of 20.91 set by Brazilian Cesar Cielo in 2009.
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Gkolomeev said he had been taking performance-enhancing drugs for just two weeks prior to delivering this swim. The swim was officiated, it’s worth noting.
He was also wearing a Jaked suit, one of the brands that was at the forefront of the now-banned polyurethane suits that saw numerous world records fall in 2009. The super-suits have been banned since January 1, 2010.
During the Enhanced Games press conference launch, a video also shows Gkolomeev clock 21.03 in the 50 free wearing a jammer, dipping under Caeleb Dressel‘s mark of 21.04, which stands as the fastest textile swim ever.
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Gkolomeev said that in his 20.89 swim, he was only two weeks into taking performance-enhancing drugs and weighed 203 pounds. In the second attempt with the jammer, he was two months into taking PEDs and had gained 10 pounds of muscle.
Last year, Australian James Magnussen was the first well-known athlete to declare his intention of competing in the Enhanced Games, and it was confirmed he would earn a $1 million check if he broke the 50 free world record.
Hawke posted a picture of Gkolomeev with a $1 million check on his Instagram Stories. Based on the check, the swim was produced in February at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
Gkolomeev’s official personal best time stands at 21.44, set at the 2018 European Championships where he won the silver medal. That was the first of four straight 50 free medals for Gkolomeev at LC Euros—last summer, he won gold at the 2024 edition in a time of 21.72.
He also won silver at the 2019 World Championships in the 50 free, tying with Brazilian Bruno Fratus in 21.45.
Gkolomeev’s last sanctioned competition was the Paris Olympics, where he placed 5th in the final in a time of 21.59. He also tied for 5th at the Tokyo Olympics (21.72) and placed 13th in Rio (21.98). He also raced in London in 2012, placing 31st in the 100 free.
Gkolomeev attended college in the United States, competing for Alabama and winning individual NCAA titles in the 50 free in 2014 and the 100 free in 2015.
A full 61-minute documentary has also been uploaded on YouTube detailing Gkolomeev’s path to going 20.89:
WHY?
This does make me wonder how many current swimming world records were aided by illegal PEDs. I have to think it’s not 0.
Women’s 200 breast, women’s 200 fly, men’s 800 free fs. (I’m not targeting non Americans… it just seems those 3 would be the most plausible)
Women 100 butterfly, women’s 1500 freestyle, Women’s 800 freestyle（I’m not targeting Americans… it just seems those 3 would be the most plausible）
women,s 800 free
I think it’s fitting all those videos show the swims being done basically completely alone.
Why are these athletes willing to participate in it? I think the core is income. Just like ISL before, professional swimming can’t support itself and is forced to find a way to live. Of course, it is obviously wrong to ignore morality for money, but in combination with some time ago Armstrong in the news of making a living, WA needs to take action to provide more life support for athletes
This is awful for the sport. What kind of example are we setting for future athletes? Makes you wonder if these athletes participating were doping earlier in their careers and just weren’t caught. Everyone associated with this should not be allowed to be involved in our sport at any level moving forward.
I don’t understand all of the vitriol. It’s not like these dudes are competing at sanctioned events. If they’re knowingly taking on the risks and self removing from competing at actual meets it’s not like they’re changing the competitive balance. I think it’s pretty entertaining to see these dudes look like super humans.
Wow. So all this drug testing and suit regulation really had some good reasoning behind it huh
Ok, I’ll say that if Cielo was next to him swimming a 20.91 then Kristian would by no means go a 20.89. The difference between swimming in a clean pool with no competitors next to you with a Worlds/Olympic medal on the line is tremendous!!
Pretty sure you can time trial world records…