Arjun P (Year 11)

Around 10,500 Olympians are competing in the Paris 2024 Olympic games this year, and do you know what makes this Olympics different from others? The athletes are on TikTok. From stolen food to breakdancing legends, athletes on TikTok has opened a whole new realm of possibilities for athletes to make a living. 

Recently, a swimmer from Norway has gained popularity for stealing muffins in the Olympic Village. Videos had been leaked of others finding him sneaking muffins back into his room. He is now known as the “muffin man”, notorious for his need for muffins. Another Olympian said, “Looking for the chocolate muffins at the Olympics, but I’m pretty sure that Norwegian swimmer stole all of them” To which he replied, “You’ll never find them.”  

Raygun the legend that she is, has been made famous because of her performance during the breakdancing event of the Olympics. She has been featured in many TikToks of her dancing or hyping herself up. 

This coverage of the Olympics is something never seen before; it is much more personal and honestly shows that these Olympians are real people who have personalities besides the sport they represent. Even the Olympic Village has been called “the villa” making a spin-off joke about the popular Love Island tv series. TikTok has become the number one place for Olympic fans to get more of their Favorite athletes, in and outside of competing. 

Some Olympians made TikToks with their medals, using their bragging rights to make a TikTok about their win. Along with other videos of people vlogging their day-to-day Olympian lives, really showing every part of their time spent in the last days training before their events. 

Honestly, this is the closest I’m ever getting to watching the Olympics as a non-sports fan, and I think it’s definitely a more enjoyable way to see these athletes battle it out on the world stage.