These 2024 Summer Olympians Have the Energy of a Protagonist

Come on 2024 Summer OlympicsAmerican athletes make headlines as GOATed gymnasts Simone Biles, record breaking swimmer Katie Ledecky, and the sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson were destined to dominate the news cycle. But thanks to the power of social media, the Paris Olympics also launched a surprising array of protagonists onto the internet, athletes from all over the world. Scores of meme-making viewers fell in love with everyone from Team USA’s “Carousel Horse Guy” to a Norwegian swimmer who loves muffins—athletes who, even if they never saw the Olympic podium, deserved to win gold in popular culture. Here’s a roundup of all the Olympians who became unexpectedly famous in Paris.

Korean shooter Kim Yeji

“This is the most glowing image I have ever seen,” one X user captioned. Photo of the 31-year-old sniper as she positioned her pistol. Her steely presence and casual demeanor have led viewers to compare Kim to characters in Bond films and Matrix. “I hope she knows the internet loves her,” one person said. commented. Others simply call her “Mom.” A first-time Olympian, has been dubbed a “breakout style star” by GQ Magazine Thanks to her decorative glasses, Kim won a silver medal in the women’s 10-meter air pistol event, along with her teammates. Oh Ye Jin take gold

Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen

Do you know the muffin man? That’s the 27-year-old Olympic swimmer from Norway who’s still waiting for his first medal—but has already won hearts with his viral ode to a certain breakfast pastry. Christiansen’s love affair with double chocolate muffins at the Olympic Village, where he rated 11/10 on TikTok, which started less than a week ago. In the days since, Christiansen has tried a few more muffins—documenting his carb-loading journey in increasingly theatrical fashion at the second Olympics since Rio 2016.

American football player Ilona Maher

Perhaps no Olympian this year has as much internet flair as Maher, his sister. Olivia coined the term “girls dinner” on TikTok. While competing at the Tokyo Olympics, the 27-year-old won fans over because of her frank assessment of the Olympic Village’s cardboard beds and her unfiltered comments on the COVID dating scene: “It’s not easy to approach a group of six, seven Romanian volleyball players and make your shot.”

In Paris, where she helped lead the U.S. women’s rugby team to a bronze medal, Maher shared her love for using lipstick while competing, professionally forged Love Island at the “Olympic Villa” and lured people from Jason Kelce ARRIVE Snoop Dogg into her videos. Most importantly, she called out body-shamers, telling her nearly 2 million TikTok followers, “Every body type is worthy, from the smallest gymnast to the tallest volleyball or rugby player to the shot putter and sprinter. Every body type is beautiful and can do amazing things, so really see yourself in these athletes and know that you can do it too.”

American gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik

Better known online as “the carousel guy,” the 25-year-old member of Team USA has become a viral sensation simply by being himself. Nedoroscik is a one-event athlete, meaning that when he’s not performing on a carousel, he can simply be settle down for a nap on the sidelines, where his bespectacled appearance has earned him compare with SupermanClark Kent’s. When he doesn’t is having a near perfect performance on a wooden horse to help the U.S. men’s gymnastics team win its first Olympic medal since 2008, Nedoroscik can be found solve Rubik’s cubeHis profile rose to the point that NBC even Start a countdown timer on the screen for “Nedoroscik Pommel” in the corner of his video feed.

Italian gymnast Giorgia Villa