Social media stars: A glance at Olympians who went big

3 years ago 334

TOKYO – At the Tokyo Games, athletes person taken to societal media successful trailblazing ways — with high-profile results. Several Olympians from niche sports introduced themselves to America done viral videos, with TikTok the preferred platform.

Here's a look astatine immoderate of the breakout stars.

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MARGIELYN DIDAL

HOMETOWN: Cebu City, Philippines

EVENT: Women’s Street Skateboarding (finished 7th retired of 8 entrants)

SOCIAL HANDLES:

— TikTok: @margiedidal (1.5 cardinal followers)

— Instagram: @margielyndidal (740k followers)

— Facebook: Margielyn Didal

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALTY: The 22-year-old roseate to fame with her infectious positivity astatine the debut of skateboarding astatine the Tokyo Olympics. Many of her TikTok videos garner implicit 1 cardinal views, with 1 of her dancing astatine the Olympic skateboarding venue reaching a staggering 16.5 million. Another clip of Didal dancing with 13-year aged rival and Brazilian phenom Rayssa Leal scored 15.6 million.

DEFINING SOCIAL MOMENT OF THE GAMES: While overmuch of Didal’s fame stems from her TikTok account, her astir notable societal infinitesimal came connected Facebook. Didal posted a representation alongside famed skater Tony Hawk, with the caption “this feline asked maine to instrumentality a photograph with him and I fto him due to the fact that helium looks similar Tony Hawk.”

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JAGGER EATON

RESIDENCE: Mesa, Arizona

EVENT: Men’s Street Skateboarding (Bronze Medal Winner)

SOCIAL HANDLES:

— TikTok: @jagger_eaton (72.5k followers)

— Instagram: @jaggereaton (444k followers)

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALTY: Eaton has gained popularity by holistically and shamelessly showcasing precisely who helium is: a laid-back, 20-year aged skateboarder. His TikTok relationship features dancing videos and behind-the-scenes looks astatine the beingness of a young American phenom named aft Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

DEFINING SOCIAL MOMENT OF THE GAMES: After his bronze medal show successful the men’s thoroughfare finals, Eaton went viral connected societal media for his nonchalant attack to the biggest contention successful his career. The young prima gained notoriety for fans' attraction to him and his humble attack to fame.

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COURTNEY HURLEY

HOMETOWN: San Antonio, TX

EVENT: Fencing - Women’s Epee (Individual, eliminated successful circular of 32/Team - eliminated successful quarterfinal)

SOCIAL HANDLES:

— TikTok: @thishurleygurrl (1.9 cardinal full likes)

— Instagram: @thathurleygurrl (3,844 followers)

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALTY: The self-proclaimed "out-of-shape fencing Olympian" made jokes connected TikTok astir losing her fencing lucifer “badly” and not fitting into her uniform. A three-time Olympian, Hurley gave viewers an wrong look astatine beingness successful the Olympic village, wherever she shared a country with teammate and older sister Kelley and participated successful the TikTok inclination of showcasing the team's problems.

DEFINING SOCIAL MOMENT OF THE GAMES: Hurley received 3.3 cardinal views connected a video successful which she lip-synced to audio astir “minimizing the press” with the caption “When you get everyone hyped to ticker your Olympic lucifer lone to suffer badly.” One spectator comment, which gained astir 75,000 likes, stated “Make it to the Olympics, suffer badly, and inactive support a consciousness of wit astir it? That’s gold-worthy successful my book!”

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RAYSSA LEAL

HOMETOWN: Imperatriz, Brazil

EVENT: Women’s Street Skateboarding (silver medalist)

SOCIAL HANDLES:

— TikTok: @jrayssaleal (3.4 cardinal followers)

— Instagram: @rayssalealsk8 (6.5 cardinal followers)

— Twitter: @rayssaleal (416.2k followers)

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALTY: At conscionable 13 years old, Leal’s relationship is authentic and features her younker and affirmative attitude. She danced with skateboarding competitors and performs tricks astatine the skatepark. Many of Leal’s uploads to TikTok are the emblematic dancing video, which dissimilar a mean teenager's, rack up views successful the millions.

DEFINING SOCIAL MOMENT OF THE GAMES: After her medal-winning skateboarding show successful Tokyo, Leal’s societal media exploded. Her astir fashionable video, astatine 15.4 cardinal views, shows her relaxing successful beforehand of the Tokyo metropolis lights.

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ILONA MAHER

RESIDENCE: San Diego, California

EVENT: Rugby Sevens (eliminated successful quarterfinals)

SOCIAL HANDLES

— TikTok: @ilonamaher (24.3 cardinal full likes)

— Instagram: @ilonamaher (79k followers)

— Twitter: @ilona_maher

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALTY: Maher gave TikTok viewers an wrong look astatine beingness wrong the Olympic Village with rocking a tie-dye Team USA bucket hat.

DEFINING SOCIAL MOMENT OF THE GAMES: Like galore different athletes successful the Olympic Village, Maher and her rugby sevens teammates tested retired the cardboard beds successful jock housing. In the TikTok video that gained implicit 7 cardinal views, Maher and teammates are shown performing CPR connected the bed, doing yoga, throwing a tantrum, beating up a fake robber, and more.

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ERIK SHOJI

HOMETOWN: Honolulu, Hawaii

EVENT: Men’s volleyball (eliminated from excavation play)

SOCIAL HANDLES:

— TikTok: @thelibero (9.2 cardinal full likes)

— Instagram: @erikshoji (75.1k followers)

— Twitter: @shojinator (15.2k followers)

— YouTube: Erik Shoji (64.1k subscribers)

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALTY: Shoji, a two-time Olympian and bronze medalist astatine the Rio Games, specialized successful regular vlogs documenting his acquisition successful the Olympic village. He often posts societal media challenges oregon trends featuring his teammates.

DEFINING SOCIAL MOMENT OF THE GAMES: Shoji has 1.1 cardinal views connected a video documenting accomplishment procedures astatine the Tokyo airport. A 2nd video of Shoji investigating the cardboard beds with teammate and roommate Taylor Sander received 3.2 cardinal views.

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SILVIA SOLYMOSYOVA

HOMETOWN: Bratislava, Slovakia

EVENT: Artistic swimming (Senior and Junior National Slovak Team Member)

SOCIAL HANDLES:

— TikTok: @sisa_solymosyova (1.2 cardinal followers)

— Instagram: @sisa_solymosyova (77.3k followers)

— YouTube: Silvia Solymosyova

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALTY: While not yet an Olympian, Solymosyova gained 1.2 cardinal TikTok followers by posting respective kinds of videos — dancing, duets with different users, and Q&As astir synchronized swimming —-all underwater. The 18-year-old Slovakian films herself dancing to the latest trends successful goggles, a aquatics cap, and chemoreceptor clip. She has much than 30 cardinal likes connected her TikTok videos.

DEFINING SOCIAL MOMENT OF THE GAMES: Solymosyova has garnered 42 cardinal views connected a TikTok station that shows her dancing to a remix of “WAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion — done underwater.

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