World 1 League, a new professional league founded by nine Olympians and backed by Mark Cuban and Jim Swartz, is launching today. It will aim to find the greatest athletes in individual, Olympic-style sports via social media challenges and live stadium events. World 1 League plans to crown champions in eight different events in its first year, with financial rewards, though specifics were not disclosed. It will launch with eight men's and women's competitions: World's fastest man/woman (100-meter dash); world's strongest man/woman (weightlifting, clean and jerk); world's fastest swimmer (50-meter freestyle); world's longest jumper (long jump); world's fastest climber (speed climbing); world's highest vaulter (pole vault); world's longest thrower (shot put); and world's highest jumper (high jump). World 1 League's ownership group includes co-Founders Sanya Richards-Ross, a five-time Olympic medalist; Erik Vendt, a three-time Olympic medalist; and Brett Morris, former Founding President & COO of esports company Super League Gaming. Olympic long jumper Tara Davis will start World 1 League's first social media competition with the "World's Longest Jumper" challenge.
