In what might be the most eyebrow-raising fusion of fertility science and Gen Z humour yet, downtown Los Angeles played host to the world’s first ever “sperm race.” Yes, you read that right—two college students went head-to-head (or… head-to-swim?) in a live-streamed competition to see whose sperm could reach the finish line first under a microscope.
The $1.4 million spectacle was the creation of a group of teenage tech entrepreneurs who wanted to put male fertility on the map—and evidently, also on the jumbotron.
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The contenders? University of Southern California’s Tristan Milker, 20, and UCLA’s Asher Proeger, 19. They were dubbed “two legends” by the official Sperm Racing site and were cheered on by a crowd of 500, including influencers, medics and curious onlookers.
This was no ordinary science fair. The event featured electric sperm tracks (yes, seriously), halftime shows, and leaderboards. Samples were collected fresh, kept at body temperature, then run through a microfluidic racetrack powered by a gentle electric current. Think Mario Kart, but microscopic—and reproductive.
Image @_westsidev via IG
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Tristan took home the $10,000 prize after a best-of-three showdown. “I’m so proud,” he said post-victory, adding that sperm health is actually a great barometer for overall wellbeing. “You can improve your health very quickly. And your sperm is a great indicator of what that could be.”
His rival Asher, an economics major and former child actor, admitted he was in it for both awareness and adrenaline. “There’s a crisis around fertility in men,” he said. “This is a great way to raise awareness… and it’s super entertaining and awesome.”
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Behind the madness is 17-year-old Eric Zhu, a serial entrepreneur who launched his first business from a high school bathroom. Alongside co-founders Nick Small, 16, and influencer Shane Fan, 22, Zhu says the goal is to destigmatise male fertility. “We’re trying to make sperm less of a taboo and more of a biomarker,” Zhu said. “If people can talk about it and improve it, we can change the paradigm.”
Fertility specialist Stephanie Sabourin, who consulted on the event, says the team’s cheeky approach has real merit. “We’re in a global fertility crisis,” she said. “Testing early and often is key.”
So yes, the sperm race may sound bonkers. But behind the memes and mayhem is a bigger point: male fertility matters—and maybe it’s finally time to talk about it.
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