Paris 2024 Goes Viral: The Top Olympic Moments on Social Media

Last Sunday, August 11, the curtain fell at Stade de France, marking the end of the XXXIII Olympic Games. 17 days of competition have left us with unforgettable moments, emerging stars, and images that will remain in our memories forever.

The Olympic Games always captures global attention. This was reflected in various sports organizations, such as Formula 1 and major soccer teams, who seized the opportunity to create content tied to the event. Staying tuned to the most popular conversations on social media allows entities to connect with new audiences while boosting their metrics on those platforms. A strategy that capitalizes on high-impact events is an essential tool for amplifying presence and relevance in the digital world.

Viral Content at the Olympics

Yusuf Dikeç, a 51-year-old Turkish athlete, began his career in shooting sports in 2001, but it wasn’t until the Paris 2024 Olympics that he gained worldwide fame and won the silver medal. Dikeç became the most viral and unexpected figure of the competition, captivating social media users and other Olympic athletes who imitated his casual, unique style.

Another popular and fun trend that has circulated online in recent weeks is “Why I Did Not Qualify for the Olympics.” In this trend, ordinary people, like you and me, shared videos demonstrating why they weren’t selected to represent their country at the Olympic Games. The success of this content once again shows that humble humor is a great ally on social media. Creators showing off their skills (or the lack thereof) in various sports generated significant engagement and views throughout the Olympics.

Swimmer Henrik Christiansen gained unexpected fame thanks to his food critiques in the Olympic Village. Nicknamed ‘Muffin Man’ after sharing his experience trying this treat on TikTok, Christiansen showed how an athlete can connect with the public in an authentic and fun way, beyond just their athletic performance.

During the Olympic Games, Christiansen was very active on social media, especially on TikTok. His success was no accident: the swimmer knew how to seize the moment, stand out among the thousands of athletes at the Olympic event, and reach a massive audience.

Christiansen’s case is a brilliant example for other athletes on how to effectively manage their social media presence. His ability to turn a spontaneous moment into a successful content strategy demonstrates how to strengthen personal branding and attract new followers. These fans don’t even need to be a fan of your sport, but they do enjoy fresh and entertaining content on social media. The results speak for themselves.

During the 17 days of the competition, Christiansen achieved over 15.5 million interactions on TikTok and more than 104 million video views, with an average of 6.1 million per post.

Gold Medals On Social Media

Many athletes and celebrities stood out at the Olympic Games this year in Paris! We wanted to take the time to analyze a couple in particular that stood out and earned gold medals for their social media engagement and growth!

Ilona Maher

Not only did Ilona Maher leave Paris with a bronze medal, the first ever medal for USA women’s rugby, but she also gained a massive social media following. Maher added 3.6 million new followers during the Olympics, +152.4% total growth! She also generated 465.6 million video views and 39.3 million engagements thanks to her fun content around the Olympic village and some serious posts standing up for female body positivity.

Simone Biles

Over the 17 days of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone Biles cemented herself into gymnastics, American, and world sports history books. Biles added four medals to her already impressive resume, and is now the most decorated American gymnast with 11 total medals in her career. Biles’ cheeky social posts celebrating her wins with her teammates generated 966.9 million impressions and 70.2 million engagements during the Olympics!

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg has become the unofficial mascot for Team USA at the Olympics! On top of boosting NBC’s content throughout the Olympics, Snoop Dogg’s owned and operated social channels skyrocketed during the Olympics with 621.6 million video views! His candid interviews with athletes and hilarious sound bites entertained sports fans around the globe during the Olympics. The overall media value of his posts throughout the Olympics finished at $28.2 million with 43.7 million engagements!

#WomenPower

For the first time in Olympic history, Paris 2024 marked a milestone by achieving gender parity in athlete participation. This achievement represents a significant step forward in sports equality and has led to powerful moments of sisterhood.

Images of female athletes supporting each other, celebrating victories together, acknowledging their rivals, and overcoming challenges have inspired millions of women. Social media has played a key role in taking these images viral and inspiring new generations to understand the importance of gender equity in all fields, including sports.

LA2028

The countdown to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games has begun, making it the perfect time to analyze their social media presence in preparation for this major event in the Californian city. With just four years to go until the Olympic Games, it’s clear that social media will play a crucial role in the promotion and success of Los Angeles 2028.

Currently, their platform with the most followers is Facebook, with 1.4 million, followed by Instagram with over 600,000 followers. Although TikTok ranks fourth in terms of follower count, there’s no doubt that this social network will play a fundamental role in the digital marketing strategy for Los Angeles 2028, offering a unique opportunity to connect with younger, global audiences.

We’ve already seen how the Los Angeles 2028 team has embraced viral moments from Paris 2024, such as the ‘Muffin Man’ phenomenon and the popularity of content featuring pets. Pets are an excellent resource for connecting with fans, humanizing the Olympic brand, and making it more accessible and relatable to the public.

Our Favorite Images from Paris 2024

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