The Paris 2024 Olympics, held from July to August, were certainly memorable. The Olympics started off with a flamboyant and highly controversial opening ceremony displaying France’s diversity. The criticisms continued to the games, with issues surrounding judging, competition venues, and the living conditions of athletes. Nevertheless, Team USA impressed us with their phenomenal athletic performances and entertaining videos from the Olympic Village. Whether you loved it or hated it, we definitely all enjoyed the memes from Team USA and athletes around the world. Here are our top 3 favorites!
1. Stephen Nedoroscik AKA Pommel Horse Guy
Nedoroscik is a Team USA gymnast who helped the men’s team win a historic bronze medal as well as an individual bronze medal on the Pommel Horse. When the internet saw this nerdy, Clark Kent look-alike “sleeping” during the competition, it was love at first sight. With his glasses on the sidelines, he looks like your typical engineering major, but when he takes them off, he transforms into a beast on the pommel horse. His wholesome energy earned him numerous viral videos online surrounding his glasses and relatable hobbies like Rocket League and Rubik’s cubing.
2. Henrik Christiansen AKA Muffin Man
Christiansen is a Norwegian swimmer whose love for the Olympic Village’s chocolate muffins borders on obsession. The TikToks of him stuffing his face with the muffins have inspired athletes like Simone Biles and our favorite pommel horse guy to try them, and other athletes have even gone into the Olympic Village on the hunt for the fabled Muffin Man. People were so desperate to get their hands on these yummy pastries that they started making them at home, and we have him to thank for giving us those intense chocolate cravings.
3. Rachel Gunn AKA Raygun
With her moves such as the “kangaroo hop” and the “sprinkler”, Raygun hardly needs an introduction. She received zero points from the judges and far more scathing online reviews. The negativity bled into breakdancing as a sport, which will thankfully not be back for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. While it’s true that Raygun overshadowed more skilled breakdancers, much of her hate is undeserved considering the fact that her crime was doing a few bad dance routines.
Honorable Mention:
Gabriel Medina AKA Flying Surfer Guy
Medina earns a spot on our ranking for the best photo from the Olympics hands down, which shows him with one hand up pointing towards the sky as he levitates in the clouds. It’s both genuinely funny and amazing how photoshopped it looks, and considering how he scored the highest wave score in Olympic history, Medina needs to be talked about more. While blowing up on the internet is unpredictable, we think major news outlets and internet users need to recognize his surf as an iconic moment of the Olympics.
Paris 2024 was the first Olympics to truly be captured through snippets on TikTok, showcasing the athlete’s personalities and life, something viewers have never really gotten before. Team USA and athletes worldwide gave us the medal-winning or disastrous performances that internet users at home turned into wholesome, funny, and memorable memes. They gave us rare moments in which we came together and laughed, leaving us in anticipation for what the next Olympics will bring.
