5 days Ago By [email protected] (Robbie Chalmers)
Social media stars and sports have a complicated relationship. Whether or not you watched Mike Tyson's boxing defeat to Jake Paul you will have had an opinion on it. Many love the over-the-top glamour and hype, while others think it makes a mockery of the sport.
But is this just the start? American YouTube sensation IShowSpeed has announced plans to complete at the 2028 Olympic Games , on home turf, to fans during a panel appearance at ComplexCon Las Vegas . He has firmly set his sights on competing in the 100 metres and, possibly, the 200 metre categories. “2028, I’ll be running in the Olympics for sure,” revealed the 19-year-old, named Darren Jason Watkins Jr, before adding that he’s set his sights on a few events.
"I’m going to do 100 meters and 50 meters and maybe 200." When it was then pointed out to him that there is no 50-metre race in the Olympic Games, Speed stumbled for a moment before adding, “You know what I mean, 100 meters then.” Speed is known for testing out his athleticism in his videos which regularly wrack up millions of views.
At the start of November, the content creator was fuming after losing MrBeast’s $100,000 50m race against Olympian gold medallist Noah Lyles. Despite this, he often boasts that he is the “fastest man alive,” and clearly, the loss has not deterred him. He now wants to compete against the quickest runners in the world.
If Speed were to meet the eligibility requirements and somehow qualify for the Olympic Games, set to take place in the USA next July with Los Angeles the host city, it would be a first for any streamer or content creator. The popular content creator has a global fanbase with 33milion subscribers on the video sharing website. Watkins gained initial popularity with his gaming content.
In 2022, he began shifting focus towards soccer-related videos, and was invited to the 2023 Ballon d'Or and 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremonies, both of which he livestreamed. Watkins has an estimated net worth of around $10 million. He is also celebrated for his energetic content and athletic challenges, shared his ambitious goal with fans, expressing a desire to transition from digital entertainment to professional athletics.
Watkins has also pursued a recording career. He signed with Warner Records to release his 2022 single "World Cup", which charted in several countries. He was named Breakout Streamer of the Year at the 12th Streamy Awards in 2022.
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