Get ready to laugh and cringe as we take you through the most unforgettable moments from the Paris 2024 Olympics, from religious controversies to pole-vaulting mishaps. Each of these incidents had the internet buzzing for different reasons, proving that even the world’s biggest sporting event isn’t safe from drowning in the chaos of Internet memes and controversies.
1. Parody of “The Last Supper”
This incident happened at the very start of the Olympic Games. During the opening ceremony, a bunch of drag queens presented a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper,” with the main dishes being a blue man dancing on the table and a performance by a bearded lady. Needless to say, such a bold statement got the orgs into some boiling-hot water.
2. Anthony Ammirati’s Baguette Accident
Track and field athlete Antoni Ammirati was quite literally a few inches away from winning a medal in pole vaulting. The athlete beat the height of 5.40 and 5.60, but 5.70 became an insurmountable barrier for him. On the first try, Ammirati caught the bar with his knees and then finally knocked it down with his hefty package. But hey, at least he’s famous now.
3. Snoop Dogg’s Unexpected Appearance at the Olympics
Another curious star of the Olympics was the famous rapper Snoop Lion. Hold on, he’s back to calling himself “Dogg” again? Cool. Anyway, photos and videos of him went viral in a matter of hours. Have you seen the one where Snoop is dressed up as an equestrian? How about that time he took swimming lessons from Michael Phelps? Apparently, it did happen!
4. Rachael Gunn’s Unforgettable Breakdance Show
Breakdancing, or ‘breaking,’ was a real hit at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Australian breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn surprised the crowd with her, let’s call them “unique” moves, like the already iconic “Kangaroo,” sparking thousands of memes and parodies online. Despite mixed reactions, she defended her performance and emphasized that it’s all about creativity. Rachel even admitted she would not stand a chance against her competition in a technical category, so she decided to go all Looney Tunes on them. Bold strategy, Cotton. And it did pay off.
5. Yusuf Dikec’s Coolest Dad Vibes
You know you’re cool when everyone copies you. Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec, who won a silver medal in the air pistol event, has been arguably the most popular character of the Paris Olympics. The 51-year-old opted not to wear any high-tech gear or even ear protection and held a very relaxed, almost anime-like pose with his non-shooting hand casually tucked into his pocket. That image of him went viral in less than 20 minutes. The memes and fan art were bountiful that day, and other athletes tried to copy Yusuf’s pose while celebrating.
6. Kim Yeji’s Poker Face
South Korean sniper Kim Yeji became another sensation at the Olympics. Similarly to Yusuf, this queen conquered social media with her main-character vibe and a damn cool look. It’s all about having one hundred percent self-confidence, badass gear, and a cute little plush elephant given to Yeji by her daughter for luck.
7. Yaroslava Mahuchikh’s Nap Time
Being an athlete is exhausting, as demonstrated by Ukrainian high jump gold medalist Yaroslava Mahuchikh. After her splendid performance, Mahuchikh was photographed wrapped in a sleeping bag like a toasty burrito. Photos of the “sleeping beauty” went viral all over the world.
