Copyright pulsesports
Legendary American sprinter Carl Lewis revealed the defficiencies with regards the Enhanced Games as more athletes continue to join the controversial competition. Following more athletes' declaration for the Enhanced Games, American sprint legend Carl Lewis has raised his skepticism about its longevity and stated that those signing up are only doing it for fame. French sprinter Mouhamadou Fall became the second high-profile track and field athlete to join the Games after American Fred Kerley. The controversial new competition that permits the use of performance-enhancing drugs is now having more visibility, signaling the event's growing ability to attract elite talent despite widespread criticism. With the lucrative incentives—including a $500,000 prize pool and a $1 million bonus for breaking the 100m world record—not everyone is convinced of the event's viability. Legendary sprint icon Carl Lewis expressed strong doubts about its long-term success. "I don’t think enhanced games are going to be successful," Lewis stated in an interview with EssentiallySports, questioning the event's commercial appeal. "What corporation would want to align themselves with it? Because who do you sell products to? Families and kids." Lewis suggested the hype surrounding the games is a product of a social media-driven culture that prioritizes fame over integrity. "So much of the world depends on what’s fake," he remarked. "The reason why we can even talk about... Enhanced Games is because people have been talking about it for years. 'Oh, let everyone take what they want.' And the world just shuts them down. But now we’re in a world where, 'Oh, it doesn’t really matter as long as I’m famous." For Lewis, the Enhanced Games represent a broader cultural shift where authenticity is sacrificed for fleeting celebrity. He predicted that the organization would ultimately face the consequences of its controversial model, but with more athletes signing on, the future of the "enhanced" competition remains to be seen.
