Two participants at an American trial of Runit League appear to knock each other out. Photo / Instagram
Two participants at an American trial of Runit League appear to knock each other out. Photo / Instagram
Two participants in the controversial collision sport “run it straight” appear to knock each other out as it debuts in the United States.
The Australian-based Runit League had previously brought the social media trend to New Zealand in May and are now touring the West Coast of the USwith six trials in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Santa Monica, Irvine, Seattle and Austin.
Auckland’s Trusts Arena held two trial nights for the league in May and were due to host a final event.
However, backlash from neuroscientists and council workers over the sport’s safety, alongside the death of a 19-year-old in a copycat event in Palmerston North, resulted in the final being shifted to Dubai.
In a recent video, taken from the trial at Zion’s Bank Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah, two participants can be seen colliding and falling unconscious afterwards.
The participant in a white shirt falls to the ground motionless with medics attending to him immediately, while the participant in the black shirt looks to go stiff with his arms slightly extended before he is attended to.
The video has amassed more than 17 million views on Instagram and over half a million likes.
The two participants at an American trial of Runit League appear to knock each other out. Photo / Instagram
The origins of run it straight can be traced back to the 1940s when it was invented by head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners college football team, Bud Wilkinson, and dubbed the “Oklahoma drill”.
It would involve two players wearing protective pads and helmets running at each other with the aim of knocking their opponent over.
NFL and college football teams adopted the drill across the US before it was banned in 2019 in order to reduce concussions.
Dr Chris Nowinski, CEO of American-based charity the Concussion Legacy Foundation, told the Herald, it was “unfortunate” run it straight has made its way to America.
“I’m concerned that the people who would sign up for this don’t understand what traumatic brain injuries or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can do to their lives.
“This is the kind of idea that could only take root because we have poor awareness of the long-term effects of repeated hits to the head.”
Vulangi Olosoni, 26, who took home A$200,000 ($219,000) after winning Runit Championship League’s Dubai final in June, apologised for his role in influencing young people to take part in the sport.
“It made me think about life. Imagine being so young and you could’ve been something, then that happens to you... It’s pretty rough [and] I feel sorry for the family that is enduring that pain,” Olosoni said.
“I apologise for that as well... influencing the younger generation to do that type of thing.”
