This (literally) breathtaking trend sport wants to shake up the 2028 Olympic Games. Expedition again finds around 100 new species off the coast of New Zealand

The so-called “underwater torpedo” requires not only muscles of steel, but above all a lung of steel. The trend sport, which was only launched in the US in 2017, is becoming increasingly popular – among athletes and the social media audience. And that’s not surprising when you see the (literally) breathtaking photos:

The rules for “Underwater Torpedo” are relatively simple. Two teams of five players each must try to get the torpedo of the same name into the opponent’s goal – the whole thing, as the name suggests, takes place underwater. Whoever is holding the torpedo is not allowed to surface. Experienced players can hold their breath for more than a minute – despite great physical exertion where oxygen consumption is very high.

To ensure safety, there are two more rules: on the one hand, no more than two people are allowed to hold someone and on the other hand, each held person must be released immediately when given the correct signal (tap twice). Two referees keep an eye on everything.

Army game

“Underwater Torpedo” originally came from the US Marines. Prime Hall and Don Tran served together in this force and later became instructors in the armed forces. There they developed it further and used it for training purposes.

The two veterans then founded the civilian ‘Underwater Torpedo League’ in 2017, which has been steadily growing in interest ever since. The trend sport has an audience of millions on social media and there are more and more active players. Two regular tournaments per year, the next one in May, and feature 13 different teams from across the US.

Obstacles before the Olympics

As a next step, the two founders Hall and Tran have now set their sights on an ambitious goal. They want to make the sport Olympic. It’s time for the 2028 Olympic Games, which will take place in Los Angeles. The first steps in this direction have already been taken and discussions have begun with the Olympic Committee.

According to Tran, the sport must be practiced on three continents to qualify as an Olympic discipline. North America is done and the next destination is Australia. “We’re currently looking at that possibility and then we have to figure out which continent is the third continent coming soon,” Tran told USA Today. “We have a few years, four years to be precise, to see if anything comes out of it.” (lso)

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