Megan Romano, world-champion swimmer, definitely has made her own history. So far, Wiggins is the only female competitor officially registered for the Enhanced Games, which will launch in May 2024 in Las Vegas. This is a significant victory for Romano. It marks an important milestone for the Enhanced Games movement, an effort to change the very nature of athletic competition.
Romano’s impressive swimming career includes winning gold medals in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay final at the Short Course Swimming World Championships in 2012, alongside teammates Allison Schmitt, Lia Neal, and Jessica Hardy. Her agreeing to compete with the Enhanced Games makes her the first U.S. athlete to participate. This accomplishment only adds to her barrier-breaking legacy within the sport.
The Enhanced Games will feature events in swimming, track, and weightlifting, allowing athletes to use performance enhancers without drug testing. This new, major, and historic approach to competition has raised questions regarding the effect on fair play and athlete safety. The event features a total prize purse of $500,000 for each tournament. Addition of $1 million bonus for athletes, in addition to the space rent shown above, who break a world record on 100-meter sprint or the 50-meter freestyle!
Romano, in a statement about her participation, said she was excited at the opportunity.
“This is an opportunity to push the boundaries of human performance in a transparent and scientifically-backed environment, and to compete on a stage where female athletes are valued and compensated fairly. I believe this is the future of sport.” – Megan Romano
In spite of her enthusiasm, the Enhanced Games haven’t been without their detractors, especially from official sporting organizations. The International Olympic Committee doesn’t want your city protesting too hard because they have some concerns about fair play. They contend that permitting performance enhancers would make it a mockery. They stated, “If you want to destroy any concept of fair play and fair competition in sport, this would be a good way to do it.”
Any world records established in the Enhanced Games would not be officially recognized because they require ratification by the relevant international federations. Romano’s participation has the potential to radically change the competitive sports landscape. The emphasis on transparency and the need for athlete compensation resonates with pushing conversations around equity in sports that have flooded media outlets, especially for female athletes.
