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Earlier this year, it was the Running Man challenge that took over the sports world. Now, however, the next new challenge that seems to be sweeping the nation has just the opposite approach. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you — the Mannequin Challenge!
#Mannequinchallenge live ❄️ pic.twitter.com/y0aUTIfyTn
— Swae Lee Lee Swae (@iHipsterLee) November 4, 2016
Hip-hop act Rae Sremmurd, as you can see above, got the whole crowd to freeze mid-motion and remain there as the camera pans around the room, thus looking, as the name implies, like mannequins. As of right now, the craze seems to already be taking hold among various high school and college sports teams — even the NFL.
The Cowboys presented perhaps the best mannequin challenge so far, featuring Cole Beasley stuffed in a overhead bin.
That 7-1 feeling #mannequinchallenge pic.twitter.com/mJeoKlANYS
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 6, 2016
And then Cowboys ownership presented the worst one.
@dallascowboys 7-1 victory feeling.. #mannequinchallenge #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/Yzou0hhVgj
— Charlotte J Anderson (@CJonesAnderson) November 6, 2016
The Cavaliers worked one in during their trip to the White House. Including a cameo from the First Lady.
Freezing our @WhiteHouse visit in time forever with @FLOTUS!#MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/iX1qaJ8qQQ
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 11, 2016
The Giants froze in place after their win Sunday over the Eagles.
I got the guys to accept the #MannequinChallenge after our huge win. Head coach, owners, GM, staff, & coaches. Man I love my team. pic.twitter.com/7ik9oq7OVe
— Damon Harrison (@BigDame900) November 7, 2016
Kentucky froze an entire arena full of people for the challenge.
#MannequinChallenge in a packed Rupp Arena? You bet. pic.twitter.com/dwWufwI8xm
— KYwildcatsTV (@KYwildcatsTV) November 7, 2016
TCU’s football team participated after beating No. 17 Baylor.
Only one way to celebrate a road win in Waco: #MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/elsxEbQhmz
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) November 6, 2016
Clemson’s football team also did one after beating Syracuse 54-0 the same week.
"They lose it when the DJ drops the needle..."#mannequinchallenge pic.twitter.com/qPP2zldota
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) November 6, 2016
Penn State did it too after beating Iowa 41-14.
PENN STATE FOOTBALL MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE #IowaBeat pic.twitter.com/DIq5UewJ4u
— ♛ Amani Oruwariye ♛ (@ooFUTURISTICoo) November 6, 2016
Here’s a video of the University of West Florida Argonauts, a Division II team, participating.
Challenge us #mannequinchallenge pic.twitter.com/OIzkZCL9r8
— Chris sakamoto (@C_RAWWswerve) November 4, 2016
Here’s one from the Ontario High School baseball team.
The Ontario high school baseball team killed the #mannequinchallenge pic.twitter.com/NjzODgpdJm
— Baseball Swag™ (@Baseballswag_) November 4, 2016
The challenge has also expanded to high school football student sections.
THS Student Section #MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/JAdWBzW1OU
— Cobster (@woahcobyiscool) November 4, 2016
The trend even expanded early on to bigger college programs. University of Michigan running back Chris Evans posted a video of Wolverines players taking their best shot at keeping still.
#MannequinChallenge @espn @ESPNCFB @CoachJim4UM #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/lCbP0xgBX6
— Chris Evans (@Kidnplay_abc123) November 4, 2016
The University of Wisconsin basketball team added a version of their own, staging a lengthy version that clocked in at over two minutes.
Wisconsin Basketball.#MannequinChallenge.
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) November 4, 2016
...enjoy. pic.twitter.com/4kSYhVnQr5
The Steelers became one of the first professional teams to join in, filming a version and even had media members join in.
#MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/HyOQeU5xgZ
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 4, 2016
The exact origin story of the challenge remains uncertain, but signs point to the first video of the challenge being this one. An article at Mashable on the trend seems to suggest likewise.
#MannequinChallenge pic.twitter.com/kAapRimYLO
— Emili (@thvtmelanin_) October 26, 2016
As you may have been able to tell from the videos above, there does not seem to be a clear song of choice among participants, as opposed to “My Boo” by the Ghost Town DJs in the Running Man challenge. We will keep you posted as more members of the sports world join in on the #mannequinchallenge.