A pair of American students have held the “world’s first” sperm race in a new competition at one of Los Angeles’ most well-known arenas.

Four teenage entrepreneurs from the United States, raised $1.5 million (£1.13 million) to stage the Sperm Racing event at the Hollywood Palladium on Friday.

The event pitted samples taken from two healthy young university students against each other on a racetrack eight inches (20cm) long and modelled on the female reproductive system, all in an effort to raise awareness about male fertility.

Tristan Mykel, 20, a student at the University of Southern California student who went by the name “Tristan Milker” and described himself as a “fertility athlete” was crowned champion.

Replete with livestreams, instant replays and even live odds, the spectacle saw the loser, Asher Proeger, a 19-year-old University of California student, sprayed with a liquid resembling semen.