Boady Santavy Becomes First Weightlifter to Join the Enhanced Games

In a move that could reshape both weightlifting and the global sporting landscape, Canadian lifter Boady Santavy has announced that he will join the inaugural Enhanced Games (EG), set for May 2026 in Las Vegas, USA.

The 27-year-old, a Commonwealth Games medalist and one of Canada’s most decorated weightlifters, will become the first athlete from weightlifting and the first Canadian across all sports to sign with EG. He is expected to compete in both the Snatch and the Clean & Jerk, with massive bonuses of $250,000 on the line for world records in each lift.

This announcement signals a new and controversial chapter in the history of the sport.

What Are the Enhanced Games?

The Enhanced Games are being positioned as a radical alternative to the Olympic Games. Unlike the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its federations, EG openly remove anti-doping restrictions, allowing athletes to compete with “performance freedom” – whether through advanced training methods, medical supervision or pharmacological enhancement.

Organizers argue that this approach is about transparency and science, claiming that doping already exists in sport, but often in secret and unsafe conditions. By creating a medically supervised environment, EG hope to push human performance boundaries while ensuring athlete safety.

The event, set for Las Vegas in May 2026, will feature multiple sports, including weightlifting, track & field, swimming, gymnastics and combat sports. Prize money is central to the model: $250,000 for a world record in weightlifting, with similar bonuses across other sports.

Mainstream media has already taken notice. Outlets such as ESPN and Netflix have expressed interest in covering the Games, framing them as one of the most disruptive experiments in modern sports history.

Who Is Boady Santavy?

Born in 1997, Boady Santavy has been a standout figure in Canadian weightlifting for nearly a decade. He achieved a major milestone at the 2021 World Championships in Tashkent, where he won a silver medal in the snatch (178 kg) in the men’s 96 kg class. He also holds personal bests of 182 kg in the snatch and 212 kg in the clean & jerk and has medaled in multiple major international meets. 

Santavy has long been regarded as one of the strongest weightlifters in the Americas, but also as a polarizing figure due to past controversies and injuries.

His decision to join the Enhanced Games brings both credibility and tension: credibility, because he represents Olympic-caliber strength; tension, because it forces the sport to confront uncomfortable questions about enhancement and legitimacy.

By signing with EG, Santavy aligns himself with an event that promises both money and freedom – two things many weightlifters feel are missing in the traditional system.

Rumors of More Signings

While Santavy is the first confirmed lifter, there are strong rumors that one American Olympian has also signed with the Enhanced Games. If true, this would mark the first U.S. weightlifter to join EG – a move that could have dramatic implications for USA Weightlifting and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).

If multiple Olympic-level lifters cross over, EG could quickly shift from a fringe experiment to a genuine competitor for talent and attention in the sport.

Why This Matters for Weightlifting

Weightlifting is no stranger to controversy. Decades of doping scandals have left the sport fighting for its Olympic survival, with the IOC threatening to drop it entirely. Against this backdrop, the Enhanced Games arrive as both a temptation and a threat.

The Financial Gap

For most elite lifters, prize money in IWF competitions is modest – often a few thousand dollars for medals. In contrast, EG promises six-figure payouts for world records. For an athlete who has dedicated years to training, the financial incentive is obvious.

A New Escape Route?

Athletes frustrated by bans, federation politics or lack of funding may see EG as an escape. If Santavy succeeds, others may follow.

Risk of Division

The danger is a potential split in the sport: Olympic Weightlifting vs. Enhanced Weightlifting. Such a fracture could weaken both, confuse fans and challenge the credibility of IWF records.

The “What If” Scenarios

The impact of the Enhanced Games on weightlifting will depend heavily on outcomes in Las Vegas 2026.

Scenario A: Lifters Try, But Fail to Break Records

If Santavy and others attempt world records but fall short of existing IWF marks, EG risks being dismissed as hype. This outcome would reinforce the legitimacy of Olympic weightlifting and show that “enhancement” does not automatically lead to better performance.

At the same time, it could raise uncomfortable questions: if athletes at the Enhanced Games – competing without anti-doping restrictions – cannot surpass IWF records, does this suggest that the top IWF lifters may not be as clean as officially claimed? Such a perception could damage the federation’s credibility and further complicate its already fragile reputation.

Scenario B: Lifters Break IWF Records

If EG athletes set new benchmarks – higher than current IWF records, the fallout could be dramatic. Olympic weightlifting might lose prestige, as fans and young athletes begin to question whether the real limits of human performance lie outside the IWF system.

Impact on IWF Reputation

Both scenarios carry risks for the IWF.

• If EG fails, IWF may temporarily gain credibility but still look vulnerable for being challenged at all.
• If EG succeeds, IWF records could be devalued overnight, and the federation may struggle to defend its place in the Olympic movement.

Impact on Olympic Weightlifting and Sport Development

Should EG produce higher lifts, the ripple effects could shape the next generation. Young athletes may look at EG as the real arena of strength, especially if prize money and media attention overshadow traditional competitions.

The Enhanced Games do not just target weightlifting. They are positioning themselves as a full alternative Olympics, with track and field, swimming and combat sports on the program.

If successful, EG could disrupt the entire sporting model. Imagine sprinters, swimmers, or fighters setting superhuman records under medical supervision, streamed globally on Netflix. The appeal for audiences is obvious: pure spectacle.

The ethical questions are equally stark. Does EG normalize doping and erase decades of anti-doping efforts? Or does it offer a more honest and transparent look at performance, acknowledging what many believe already happens behind closed doors?

Sponsors, federations, and athletes will be forced to take sides. The IOC and WADA will need to respond, either by defending the traditional model or by finding ways to adapt.

Conclusion

Boady Santavy’s decision to join the Enhanced Games is historic: the first weightlifter, the first Canadian and a major signal that EG is not just an idea but a movement gaining traction.

With Las Vegas 2026 approaching, the stakes are enormous. If Santavy and others succeed, Olympic weightlifting and the IWF could face an existential crisis. If they fail, EG risks losing credibility before it even begins.

Either way, Santavy’s leap forces the sporting world to confront the biggest question of all: what does it really take to be the best – natural limits or enhanced performance?