In an unprecedented and eyebrow-raising event, Los Angeles hosted the world’s first competitive sperm race on April 25, 2025, at the Hollywood Palladium and later at LA Center Studios. The event, organized by a startup named Sperm Racing, was spearheaded by a group of teenage entrepreneurs aiming to raise awareness about declining male fertility rates.
The winner, 20-year-old University of Southern California (USC) student Tristan Milker, emerged victorious in a microscopic showdown against 19-year-old Asher Proeger from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Dubbed the “ultimate battle of fertility and fitness,” the competition drew over 1,000 spectators, raised $1.5 million, and sparked global conversations about male reproductive health.
The Birth of Sperm Racing:
The concept of a sperm race might sound like the plot of a sci-fi comedy, but its roots lie in a serious concern: the global decline in male fertility. Studies suggest that sperm counts have dropped by more than 50% over the past 50 years, attributed to factors like lifestyle choices, environmental toxins, and delayed family planning.
Enter Eric Zhu, a 17-year-old tech prodigy, who, along with co-founders Nick Small, Shane Fan, and former MrBeast content strategist Garrett Niconienko, launched Sperm Racing to address this issue in a novel way. Zhu, inspired by social media posts highlighting the fertility crisis, saw an opportunity to combine science, entertainment, and education to spark dialogue.
The startup raised $1.5 million to stage the event, which was initially planned for the Hollywood Palladium but later moved to LA Center Studios, a venue known for hosting Hollywood productions like Dune and Top Gun: Maverick.
The organizers aimed to create a spectacle that would not only entertain but also inform. “Faster sperm is healthier sperm,” Zhu told the Daily Mail, emphasizing that sperm motility—the ability of sperm to move efficiently—is a key indicator of male health. The event was designed to highlight this connection, using a competitive format to draw attention to an often-overlooked topic.
Read : Bizarre! Los Angeles Hosting the World’s First Live Sperm Race
Tickets were priced at $20 for students, $40 for general admission, and a whopping $999.99 for VIP seats, reflecting the event’s blend of accessibility and exclusivity. The Sperm Racing website described the competitors, Tristan Milker and Asher Proeger, as “two legends,” setting the stage for a rivalry between USC and UCLA that added a layer of collegiate pride to the proceedings.
La primera carrera de esperma. Asi como lo oyen!
— Karina De la Oz (@KarinaDelaOz) April 26, 2025
Bajo un microscopio, en una pista imitando el sistema reproductor femenino, en un evento live streaming y con apuestas!
Miren la foto de los dos competidores. ¿Quien creen ustedes que ganó, Tristan o Asher? pic.twitter.com/YJ8kpQXK7n
The event also featured a press conference, weigh-in, and even betting opportunities, mimicking the structure of traditional sports spectacles. This bold initiative, while controversial, succeeded in capturing global media attention, with outlets like The Telegraph, Daily Mail, and TMZ covering the race extensively.
The Race: A Microscopic Showdown
The sperm race itself was a marvel of science and spectacle. Held on a custom-built, 8-inch (20-centimeter) microscopic racetrack designed to mimic the female reproductive system, the competition featured sperm samples from Milker and Proeger racing in real time.
The track incorporated chemical cues, fluid dynamics, and synchronized starting positions to simulate the natural environment sperm navigate during reproduction. Each sperm, measuring just 0.05 millimeters, was magnified 100 times under a microscope, with footage fed into 3D animation software and broadcast on large screens for the audience to watch.
A lab technician in a white coat used pipettes to place the pre-collected semen samples onto tiny 2mm-wide tracks, ensuring a fair and controlled start. The race was a best-of-three format, with play-by-play commentary, instant replays, and live betting odds adding to the drama.
Spectators, numbering over 1,000, roared as the microscopic competitors swam toward the finish line. The event even included a halftime show featuring Ty Dolla $ign and DJ Vunnie “Westside V” Thou, blending entertainment with the scientific focus.
In the trial runs, the race was described as “neck and neck,” but during the final showdown, one of Milker’s sperm surged ahead in a sudden burst, pulling away from Proeger’s sample. The Daily Star humorously noted that Milker’s sperm won “by at least 10 lengths if this was horse racing,” with a commentator shouting “INSEMINATION” as the winning sperm crossed the line.
Milker, who initially laughed at the concept but later embraced it as “amazing,” was crowned the champion and awarded a $10,000 cash prize. He proudly displayed a golden sperm trophy, joking about where he might place it. Proeger, the runner-up, was playfully doused with a liquid resembling semen, adding a lighthearted touch to the event’s conclusion.
The race wasn’t without its skeptics. Some spectators, like 20-year-old Felix Escobar, questioned its authenticity, saying, “There’s no way to really tell if this is real, but I want to believe it is.”
Despite such doubts, the event’s organizers maintained transparency, emphasizing the scientific rigor behind the racetrack and imaging systems. The competition’s blend of humor, science, and spectacle made it, as KTLA described, “oddly entertaining,” ensuring it left a lasting impression on attendees and viewers worldwide.
The Bigger Picture: Raising Awareness and Sparking Debate
Beyond the spectacle, the sperm race served a deeper purpose: to bring male fertility into the public spotlight. The event’s organizers highlighted the alarming decline in sperm counts, with Zhu noting that “no one has really paid attention to sperm health recently.”
While scientists remain divided on the extent of the fertility crisis—studies show conflicting results—the race underscored the importance of sperm quality as a biomarker for overall health. Factors like poor diet, stress, exposure to pollutants, and sedentary lifestyles are believed to contribute to declining sperm motility, making events like this a creative way to encourage men to prioritize their reproductive health.
The race also tapped into broader societal conversations, including the burgeoning pro-natalist movement, which advocates for addressing population decline. However, Zhu distanced himself from such ideologies, stating, “I’m not like an Elon Musk, who wants to repopulate the Earth.”
Instead, he focused on education, with expert talks and press conferences during the event providing insights into male fertility and health. The $1.5 million raised was directed toward fertility awareness campaigns, signaling the startup’s commitment to long-term impact.
The event wasn’t without controversy. Some criticized its sensational approach, arguing it trivialized a serious issue. Others raised ethical questions about the collection and use of sperm samples, though organizers clarified that samples were collected beforehand under controlled conditions.
The high cost of VIP tickets and the betting component also drew scrutiny, with some accusing the event of commercializing a health issue. Yet, supporters argued that the race’s unconventional format was precisely what made it effective, breaking taboos and engaging younger audiences who might otherwise ignore the topic.
The sperm race’s cultural impact was undeniable. Social media buzzed with reactions, from @chondriac_’s enthusiastic “LET’S GO TRISTAN MILKER IS THE FIRST SPERM RACING CHAMPION” to @AshleyWeis4’s call for public reactions to the “bizarre competition.”
The event’s blend of science, sport, and showbiz resonated with a generation accustomed to viral moments, ensuring its message reached far beyond the Hollywood Palladium. As The Times of India noted, the race “brings male fertility into public spotlight,” a feat few traditional campaigns could achieve.
The world’s first sperm race, won by 20-year-old Tristan Milker on April 25, 2025, in Los Angeles, was more than just a quirky headline. It was a bold, if unconventional, attempt to address a pressing global issue: the decline in male fertility.
By combining cutting-edge science with entertainment, Sperm Racing’s teenage founders created a spectacle that captivated audiences, raised $1.5 million, and sparked vital conversations about men’s health. Milker’s victory, marked by a golden sperm trophy and a $10,000 prize, symbolized the event’s success in blending humor with purpose.
As the dust settles, the sperm race leaves a legacy of innovation and awareness. It challenged societal taboos, engaged a diverse audience, and highlighted the importance of sperm motility as a health indicator.
While debates about its approach and ethics persist, its impact is undeniable, proving that even the most unusual ideas can drive meaningful change. For those interested in learning more, the Sperm Racing website offers updates on future initiatives, ensuring this microscopic marathon is just the beginning of a larger movement.