Enhanced Games: Nigerian athlete, Usman becomes first Nigerian to participate
File Photo: Maryam Usman
Events include swimming, athletics, weightlifting and strongman.
Maryam Usman has become the first Nigerian athlete confirmed to compete at the inaugural Enhanced Games, the controversial multi-sport event that permits the use of performance-enhancing substances, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The competition, founded by Australian businessman Aron D’Souza, is scheduled to take place on May 24, 2026 at Resorts World in Las Vegas.
The 35-year-old weightlifter, is a three-time Olympian who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Games.
She is also a four-time African Champion, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, and has previously won a bronze medal at the 2011 World Weightlifting Championships.
Competing in the women’s +75kg class, she has established herself as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished athletes in the sport.
The announcement of Usman’s inclusion comes alongside the confirmation of four other elite weightlifters: Yoni Andica (Colombia), Arley Mendez (Chile), Leidy Solis (Colombia) and Juan Solis (Colombia), each bringing extensive international experience.
These additions complement previously announced athletes including Boady Santavy (Canada), Wes Kitts (United States) and Beatriz Pirón (Dominican Republic).
The Enhanced Games field spans swimming, athletics, weightlifting and strongman events. Confirmed participants also include Olympic medallists such as James Magnussen of Australia, Ben Proud of the United Kingdom, Cody Miller and Fred Kerley of the United States, and a host of other world-class athletes including Kristian Gkolomeev (Greece), Emmanuel Matadi (Liberia), and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (Iceland).
Enhanced, the elite sports company behind the event, said the inclusion of these athletes would deliver a platform showcasing both power and technical precision.
Rick Adams, Enhanced’s Chief Sporting Officer, described the athletes as “championship-caliber weightlifters” whose participation promises “incredible moments and a strong run at world records.”
D’Souza founded the Enhanced Games to challenge the restrictions of traditional sports, arguing that athletes should have autonomy over their bodies. The event is set to attract international attention due to its unique approach, which permits performance-enhancing substances without sanctions or drug testing.
Usman’s involvement marks a historic moment for Nigerian sports as she becomes the country’s first representative at the event, joining a growing international field that includes multiple former Olympians and Pan-American Games champions. Her participation reflects both her enduring success in weightlifting and the growing global profile of the Enhanced Games.
