Enhanced Games raises Usain Bolt record bonus to $10m
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Enhanced Games has increased the bonus for any athlete who breaks Usain Bolt’s men’s 100m world record at its 2027 event to $10 million, dramatically raising the stakes ahead of the competition’s second edition.
The announcement came in a shareholder letter from Enhanced CEO Maximilian Martin following the inaugural Games in Las Vegas, where organisers said 13 athletes produced 21 personal bests under medically supervised enhancement protocols.
Bolt’s long-standing world record of 9.58 seconds, set in 2009, remains the benchmark for the lucrative prize. The previous reward for surpassing the mark had been set at $1 million.
Martin said the inaugural event had already secured more than $32 million in sponsorship agreements, while organisers claimed audience figures across television, streaming and social media had exceeded expectations.
Among the standout performances, swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev earned $1.5 million after setting a new 50m freestyle world record of 20.81 seconds, described by organisers as the largest single payout in swimming history.
The Enhanced Games, which promote the use of medically supervised performance enhancement, said all competitors passed health screenings and completed the event safely. Planning is already under way for the 2027 Games, with organisers also exploring smaller events and endurance sports competitions.