Fast and Fertile: The World's First Sperm Race Is Here

Apr 22, 2025 Kriti Keshari

The world's first live sperm race, which will highlight male fertility issues with a microscopic competition between USC and UCLA, will take place at the Hollywood Palladium on April 25, 2025

[{"selector":"#anim-6e7f1bf7-03b6-488a-9049-09c05e5a5b1a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5699d42f-a789-4561-be36-cddb814b2da2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 67.27357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1160904d-b3b5-4191-a139-320652016572","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dfdd7658-fff5-4536-bfd3-323ec610e2e0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.24489%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-11c98e27-76c6-49b5-986c-c23c157b2f38","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d06097c3-78a1-4abd-946c-8221809ff213","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

By transforming health into a competitive sport, the event, which is being organized by the startup Sperm Racing, seeks to increase awareness about declining male fertility

[{"selector":"#anim-5f49e5df-75e9-4adf-b91e-f214145d1ba7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c3134b5-6f3d-4a44-9e65-7c27bd1380ad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 67.27357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e64ce8b-60cf-454a-b11b-be4cbe877cb1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-daab88fc-3cc1-48d8-a779-5f8a8fcd3972","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-654edd11-db3a-4ccd-b8a0-edec4e839bf3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c42ca9e4-4e0a-4c6b-b154-b868d52a895c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.99417%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

A 20-centimeter microfluidic track that replicates the female reproductive system will be traveled by two sperm samples, and spectators will be able to see the race magnified 40 times

[{"selector":"#anim-6c8bb329-083c-41f9-a7f3-1f8f4eae4d35","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45b098d6-722e-4d25-9936-583adfaef675","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 67.27357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8460a154-9e1e-4329-a1cd-46f67d47ee46","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f2dcc7c-ca3b-413b-b7e7-fdee6369de4a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d109f2ec-4f3b-4567-9d2f-ccde31207b41","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-42ed5b25-fca1-4adb-9adb-80ca89abbd3a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.32797%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Live commentary, instant replays, leaderboards, and betting opportunities via websites like Polymarket are all part of the spectacle

[{"selector":"#anim-d11c341c-91cd-4178-9ab3-e0cd6c4f6ca0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f80fa769-c725-4beb-8c4a-7e8cb921b913","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 67.27357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a27902b9-394f-429c-90a0-05c2abed4243","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1e67e75-5bd3-435e-9a13-41ee0665f0f9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d51dbbf-a8b1-4dac-8f2f-9d1377e9f020","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb2fb0b2-12f0-4b16-b5cf-37e35743d28b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.0418%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Beyond entertainment, the race seeks to destigmatize discussions around male fertility, highlighting concerns over a significant decline in sperm counts over the past five decades

[{"selector":"#anim-d9aab5bd-9078-4965-a6fe-5cb9695b5d14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e4e0a9f-4c21-4437-9158-5f5a170979ed","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 67.27357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-544e58f0-8098-4777-ba9a-bb532c8a7498","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2badd32-76fd-4235-bcae-f6e4fba830ff","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-348d048b-5687-42c9-b2be-4e4e685ab457","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64faecab-5fd6-4df8-aef6-1a4e59ffd821","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.44827%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Sperm Racing was founded by teenagers Eric Zhu, Nick Small, Shane Fan, and Garrett Niconienko, who have secured $1.5 million in funding to bring this concept to life

[{"selector":"#anim-1245aecb-d13c-41ef-94f4-0f788894d4ee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee4e9bc4-53c7-4a6b-9cde-071e7e6564f9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 67.27357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3262d4db-b20f-4a04-b7e9-ad26dfc1602d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a293aaab-6784-4c9d-8efc-6c6bf4bbc734","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c62ca1a2-a098-41e3-90a5-5eb3c1ded1b0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c3a962e5-8baa-48ec-8fce-e16f6cf667f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.73135%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The event has sparked a mix of amusement and criticism, with supporters praising its innovative approach to health awareness and critics questioning its appropriateness

[{"selector":"#anim-07ac4914-a3f0-4a77-875d-c2317779e03f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8fd230c-6506-4283-86dc-cb7e53beba47","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 67.27357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d301fbe-eca7-41e2-8e7d-01feab4055f2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a427520d-11d2-43b3-9cf2-8425927659d2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a4121fb-ea1c-4c17-821d-6bebfa9a125c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52182753-bb9a-4097-b1e3-194c103c3cbf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-111.9403%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

By combining science, sport, and spectacle, the world's first sperm race aims to ignite conversations about male reproductive health in an unprecedented way

[{"selector":"#anim-3d0527c9-fa0a-4c4e-a949-cf063ff84b92","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c3e712e-753d-4133-85b3-b66e7acdbd28","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 67.27357%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acd41d4a-4de9-4caf-93f7-1f2398ec7751","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8bc22ae6-6061-4a4f-bb45-297da0bab1cc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afe9c06c-166b-4d48-a3d7-885e21003217","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73bf2306-b2ec-41de-8436-98cc8ca16022","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.43284%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Read More The Banana That Tastes Like Ice Cream Blue Java Wonder Is This a Mountain or a Dessert? Welcome to Mount Bokty Virat Kohli Retires from Test Cricket, Visits Vrindavan with Anushka Sharma Cannes 2025: New Dress Code Bans Nudity and Oversized Outfits