These 2024 Summer Olympians Have the Energy of a Protagonist

Looking Ahead to 2024 Summer Olympics, American Athletes Make a Spotlight 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

“The most radiant I’ve ever seen in a photo,” one X user captioned a photo of the 31-year-old sniper as she aimed her pistol. Her powerful presence and casual demeanor have led viewers to compare Kim to characters in Bond films and Matrix. “I hope she knows the internet is in love with her,” one commenter wrote. Others simply called her “Mom.” A first-time Olympian, she has been branded a “breakout style star.” 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 poems about a certain breakfast pastry. Christiansen’s love affair with the Olympic Village’s double chocolate muffins, which he rates 11/10 on TikTok, began less than a week ago. In the days since, Christiansen has sampled a few more muffins—documenting his carb-loading journey in increasingly dramatic fashion at his second Olympics since Rio in 2016.

American football player Ilona Maher

Perhaps no Olympian this year has as much internet flair as Maher, his sister. Olivia coined the term “girl dinner” on TikTok. While competing at the Tokyo Olympics, the 27-year-old won fans for her candid review of the Olympic Village’s cardboard beds and her uncensored commentary on the COVID-era 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 soccer team to a bronze medal, Maher shared her love of wearing lipstick on the court, which was cleverly mocked. 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 horseback 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 the horseback, he can be found napping on the sidelines, where his bespectacled appearance has drawn comparisons to SupermanClark Kent. When he’s not performing 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 solving a Rubik’s Cube. His profile has risen to the point where NBC even started an on-screen countdown for “Nedoroscik Pommel” in the corner of its video feed.

Italian gymnast Giorgia Villa