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The Enhanced Games (EG) is paying a quarter of a million dollars for world records in both the snatch and clean & jerk, according to the organization’s social media announcement on Tuesday.
The latest: Leidy Solis (COL), Arley Mendez (CHI), Maryam Usman (NGR), Yoni Andica (COL), and Juan Solis (COL) have boarded the “Steroid Olympics".
The EG takes place in May of this year in Las Vegas, Nevada. Athletes are not required to use performance-enhancing drugs to compete. But with money on the line, why wouldn't they?
The list of confirmed weightlifters has steadily risen as organizer Ivan Rojas continues to approach recently retired athletes, or those who have complicated relationships with their own federations, who may be willing to jump ship.
Essential: Weightlifting House firmly believes in clean sport being weightlifting's path forward. That said, we cannot ignore so many high-profile athletes entering the public spotlight.
Here are all the weightlifters who will perform at the EG this summer—so far.
Enhanced Games: Who's Going?
The Enhanced Games will utilize the sport's current weight classes. If you need to brush up on the numbers the weightlifters below need to beat, refer to our Men's and Women's world record pages.
Here's the confirmed athlete list, their best international totals, and the records they'd need in the nearest weight class(es).
Boady Santavy (CAN)
- Best total: 389@96
- Must lift: 397@94
Wes Kitts (USA)
- Best total: 399@109
- Must lift: 397@94 or 429@110
Beatriz Piron (DOM)
- Best total: 201@53
- Must lift: 214@48 or 224@53
Leidy Solis (COL)
- Best total: 256@76
- Must lift: 279@77 or 290@86
Arley Mendez (CHI)
- Best total: 382@85
- Must lift: 388@88
Maryam Usman (NGR)
- Best total: 281@+75
- Must lift: 290@86 or 326@+86
Yony Andica (COL)
- Best total: 338@89
- Must lift: 388@88
Juan Solis (COL)
- Best total: 343@96
- Must lift: 397@94
