Trump Jr. and the Unfortunate Launch of Enhanced Games
Donald Trump Jr. seems to have taken a page from his father’s playbook, but maybe not in the way he hoped. He co-hosted the inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas this past weekend, but, frankly, most attendees seemed to ignore him entirely. It’s hard not to compare it to the XFL in terms of disappointment.
The event aimed to shatter world records and showcase extraordinary athleticism, yet it fell flat—turning into a rather dull, lackluster version of the Olympic Games. Early reports indicate that the public reaction has been underwhelming, and the parent company, Enhanced Group, has seen its stock take a significant hit.
The centerpiece was the men’s 100m race, where Paris Olympic bronze medalist Frank Curley claimed that Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds could potentially be surpassed, even when using performance enhancers. In reality, Curley finished with a mediocre time of 9.97 seconds—slower than his Olympic performance. After falling short of breaking the record, he didn’t hold back, suggesting his fellow athletes needed to “step up their game.”
“They have to do better than that,” Curley shared in a post-race interview. “They need to train a little harder and work a little harder.”
Disappointments weren’t limited to just the track. In the pool, Hunter Armstrong took first in the 50-meter backstroke, yet former Australian swimmer James Magnussen, who returned from retirement for this venture, found himself lagging two seconds behind his own record in the 100m freestyle.
A recurring theme throughout the weekend was clear: athletes utilizing performance-enhancing drugs often posted times that were nowhere near record-breaking. In some cases, they even lost to competitors who weren’t using such substances.
This outcome wasn’t exactly a shock for those familiar with the origins of this event. It seemed to emerge from the minds of tech entrepreneurs rather than serious athletes, based on the flawed idea that performance enhancers could elevate mediocre competitors to extraordinary levels. Ultimately, there was little to attract viewers, especially with the competition from the ongoing NBA and NHL playoffs, the MLB season, and major motorsport events like the Indy 500 and Canadian F1 GP.
Despite the lackluster reception, Enhanced Games CEO Maximilion Martin declared the event was “here to stay,” comparing it to a recurring ailment that might go away, but eventually returns—leaving fans feeling glad when it disappears from view.
