Ah, the Olympics. The world’s quadrennial showcase of skill, strength, determination and… some truly hilarious moments, too.
Now that the ‘2020’ Summer Games are officially over, we’ve put together 10 of our favourites for you to enjoy!
#10. Australian Swim Coach Reacts Iconically to Gold Medal Finish
Most people watch Olympic swim events to see… well… the swimmers!
At the women’s 400m freestyle final, however, Australian coach Dean Boxell managed to steal the show with his wacky reaction to Ariarne Titmus’ gold medal win.
In a nail-biting turn of events, the Aussie Titmus beat out Katie Ledecky, the American 5-time gold medal winner, at the last moment.
Boxell’s reaction, full of hip thrusts, hair tossing, and even a full-out mask rip, has since been enjoyed around the world.
#9. Diver Tom Daley Knits from the Stands
When you win as much hardware as Tom Daley, you apparently start to worry that it might get scratched!
That’s why the 27-year-old, highly decorated, four-time Olympian from Great Britain knitted a ‘cosy’ for the gold medal he earned in Tokyo alongside partner Matty Lee in the men’s 10-meter synchronized dive.
Daley’s impressive work of craftsmanship featured the Union Jack on one side and the Japanese flag on the other.
We love to see a guy with shredded abs and a penchant for arts and crafts!
Check out his Instagram, @madewithlovebytomdaley, for more creations, including this amazing cat couch.
#8. Canadian Swimmer Wins Gold and Becomes a Meme
19-year-old Maggie MacNeil charmed the world – and the internet – when she won gold in the 100-meter butterfly final, but couldn’t see her results!
MacNeil, who explained that she’s near-sighted, but doesn’t wear contacts or prescription goggles in the pool, squinted to see the scoreboard before realizing her victory.
Luckily, MacNeil is in on the joke, telling reporters “that meme has been sent to me by at least 50 of my friends.”
#7. Men’s Triathlon Boat Fail
No one was hurt when a media boat accidentally barred athletes from competing in the men’s triathlon, so we’re allowed to laugh, right?
A restart was called when the boat, which was diligently capturing the competitors on the ‘starting pontoon,’ kept cameras rolling after the start signal blared – preventing about half the athletes from diving in the water!
While it must have been frustrating for the competitors, it sure is funny to watch!
#6. Jamaican Gold Medalist Takes the Wrong Bus, Almost Misses Race
31-year-old Jamaican hurdler Hansle Parchment got very lucky at the Tokyo Games!
Proving that Olympians really are just like us, he took the wrong bus to his semi-final event and ended up at an aquatics arena instead of a track.
“I had music in my ears, and I wasn’t hearing anything that the people loading the bus were saying,” he said. “I saw the sign at the top of the bus stand saying ‘athletics track’ without even thinking about it. By the time I looked up, I realised that the bus was going the wrong way.”
Luckily, the stranded athlete was able to persuade an Olympic volunteer to pay his taxi fare and got to his race on time. It was a good thing, too, as he eventually won gold in the 110-meter hurdle event!
Afterwards, he tracked down the volunteer, Tiana, to say thank you, letting her hold his gold medal, returning the taxi fare and gifting her with a special Jamaican Olympic shirt.
Since then, the Jamaican minister for tourism has offered Tiana a free trip to Jamaica as a way to say thank you. It looks like kindness really does pay off!
Always be kind to each other 🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/j1XvHRta4G
— Hansle Parchment, OLY (@ParchmentHansle) August 7, 2021
#5. ‘Rave Horse’ Brings Down the House
"OMG THEY'RE PLAYING MY SONG." - the horse at the club pic.twitter.com/xRNJ5N6acE
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 31, 2021
Five-time American Olympian Steffan Peters was out shadowed by Suppenkaspar (affectionately known as Mopsie), the ‘rave horse’ who jammed to upbeat electronic music during the Dressage Individual Grand Prix Freestyle Final.
Mopsie and Peters only came in 10th place, but they won the hearts of both ravers and non-ravers alike with their inspiring performance.
In a sport that can be a tad stuffy, we sure appreciate their efforts.
#4. Resting Dive Face
Every four years, this crazy, complicated world is given a little treat: Olympic diving faces!
We get it. It must be near-impossible to stay composed while flipping through the air with boundless skill and determination – not to mention all of those g-forces!
Still, we can’t help but laugh at snapshots of these amazing athletes in motion during the 2020 Summer Games.
#3. Synchronized Swimming Stills
Synchronized swimming, also known as ‘artistic swimming,’ is an incredibly difficult sport.
Athletes must train for about 10 hours a day to even stand a chance. Succeeding takes intense strength and artistry, and unlike other water sports, competitors aren’t even allowed to wear goggles!
Nonetheless, we can’t help but chuckle at these snapshots from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Synchronized swimmers – we love you! We respect you! But sometimes, you’ve just got to laugh.
#2. Gold-Winning Athlete Repairs Kayak with Condom
150,000 condoms were expected to be used at the Tokyo Olympic Village, but none of them like this!
Australian canoeist and kayaker Jessica Fox shared a Tik Tok video that showed a condom being stretched over the nose of her damaged boat. “Bet you never knew condoms could be used for kayak repairs,” she wrote.
Fox proceeded to win gold in the women’s C1 canoe slalom, and bronze in the K1 canoe slalom.
This resourceful Aussie proved that sometimes, you’ve just gotta do what you’ve gotta do!
@jessfoxcanoe How kayakers use condoms 😂🤷🏽♀️ #kayaktips #hacksandtips #diy #carbonrepair #carbon #tokyo2020 #olympicgames
♬ original sound - jess fox
#1. Brazilian Swimmer Brings Meme to Life - By Accident!
Bruno Fratus won bronze in the men’s 50-meter freestyle, but took home comedy gold when he unintentionally re-enacted a popular meme!
Having missed out on accolades at the Rio and London games, the 32-year-old Brazilian athlete was ecstatic to take home his first medal – and it showed.
The third-place finisher bit his hardware, kissed his wife, raised his arms and largely out-shadowed the podium’s 1st and 2nd place finishers. He was just missing the champagne… but there’s always next time.
Congratulations, Bruno! And thanks for making us all laugh.
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I love everything about sports. I used to play soccer for almost 10 years but recently I have joined a local volleyball team that I’ve fallen in love with.
- About this Author
- Latest Posts
I love everything about sports. I used to play soccer for almost 10 years but recently I have joined a local volleyball team that I’ve fallen in love with.
