A jaw-dropping $1 million prize for breaking records. Yes, that is what goes into your bank if you break the record in the Enhanced Games – an event that was announced back in 2023 and awaits its debut on May 21–24, 2026, at Resorts World Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. It comes with a twist, though, and no, it’s not the one million; rather, it’s the permission given to the athletes to use performance-enhancing d—- legally under strict medical supervision. Founder Aron D’Souza boldly stated, “We are here to move humanity forward… The old rules didn’t just hold back athletes, they held back humanity.” He even has a former American coach by his side.

Brett Hawke, who has coached in the United States since 2006, said his interest was piqued when he heard Australian entrepreneur and Enhanced Games president Aron D’Souza on the Joe Rogan podcast. He said, “I’m pretty open-minded and progressive with my thoughts, and I like to listen to people’s arguments, and I thought they were pretty compelling.” The coach said that all he had been taught and all that he knew about the performance-enhancing d—- was that they were bad and the abuse of them.

He further added, “And that is certainly not the case at all, and I’ve learned over time it’s a pretty naïve view on this. But yeah, initially I had the same reaction as anyone else until I did my research, until I started asking questions.” Hawke has been appointed as the Head Swim Coach of the Enhanced Games. And let’s just say that his first run with Kristian Gkolomeev has shown results. The Greek swimmer bettered the existing world 50 m free world record after training for three weeks in a 12-week enhancement program.

After finishing fifth in the past two Olympics, he clocked 20.89 seconds at the Greensboro Aquatics Centre in North Carolina on February 25. And with that, he was given $1 million. What also came with it was a lot of backlash, but his coach’s response? “Let it come. Innovation always gets resistance.”

His support for it stands in contrast to what he said earlier, when China’s Pan Zhanle stunned the world by breaking his own 100m freestyle world record, finishing 1.08 seconds ahead of Australia’s Kyle Chalmers. Hawke was Chalmers’ coach. His statements hinted at accusations of d— enhancements on the 20-year-old. 

“Oh, charmers, you don’t beat those guys by one full body length in a hundred freestyle. That’s not humanly possible,” said the then-Australian swimming coach. Now reading some of the comments that go along the lines of “it always seems impossible until it’s done,” and a few others, the coach gave only one good reason for his views. He said, “I’ve studied this sport. I’ve studied speed. I understand it. I’m an expert in it. That’s what I do, and I’m upset right now because you don’t win a hundred freestyle by a body length on that field. You just don’t do it.” 

Brett Hawke is a two-time Olympian and five-time Australian national champion. He coached Auburn to one NCAA national title in 2009 while mentoring multiple Olympic medalists like César Cielo and Fred Bousquet. So he is right to say that he understands the sport. But his words for Enhanced Games and what he said for Pan Zhanle do not exactly sit together.

What happened in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics?

At the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, the men’s 100-meter freestyle final became a defining moment in swimming history. The race, held at La Défense Arena, showcased Zhanle’s explosive start and unwavering pace, leaving competitors trailing. He delivered a breathtaking performance, finishing in 46.40 seconds and breaking his world record by 0.40 seconds. This victory not only secured China’s first swimming gold at the Games, but also marked the first world record set in the pool during the event. 

Pan’s time placed him over a second ahead of Australia’s Kyle Chalmers (47.48) and Romania’s David Popovici (47.49), underscoring the dominance of his swim. Brett Hawke was the most vocal critic of Pan Zhanle’s record-breaking 100m freestyle swim while Australia’s Kyle Chalmers and Romania’s David Popovici acknowledged the legitimacy of his performance. Chalmers expressed admiration, saying, “A swim of 46.4 is amazing,” while Popovici added, “Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”

Despite Zhanle undergoing 21 doping tests between May and July, all returning negative, doubts persisted. In response, Chinese fans and state media rallied in support of Zhanle, emphasizing his rigorous training and the clean results of his tests. What are your thoughts on this race?