The content games: What athletes in Paris taught us about creating video content
As the Paris 2024 Olympics comes to a close, it's clear that this year, the focus shifted from jaw-dropping feats and polished facades to more relatable athlete moments, letting audiences in on their true selves. These raw, human aspects of the games flooded our feeds with a refreshing dose of authenticity we—and the rest of the internet—couldn’t get enough of.
Social media became the go-to platform for Olympic updates, and the shareability of these moments brought athletes into the spotlight in a new and more engaging way.
Scroll on for our favourite athlete moments from the games and how their realness can inspire your video content
Content gold
What's the first thing you do after clinching the gold?
Plan your TikToks, obviously.
After the USA women's gymnastics team secured redemption golds, Suni Lee and Simone Biles were caught candidly calling dibs on their post ideas with their shiny new hardware.
"I want to do the chomping one," Biles said. Lee replied, "OK, I want to do the one that says, 'Imagine if we didn't win."
The comments surrounding this wholesome moment centred less on the team's talents and more on the athletes' down-to-earth nature and excitement about sharing their successes.
Aleksandra Jarecka jabs us right in the feels
Nobody's too cool for school.
Ever seen an athlete pull off the most unbelievable feat, achieving historic wins, only to brush it off as nothing? Yeah, we don't get it either.
Athletes train ridiculously hard, give everything to their sport, and then casually downplay their victories. Winning an Olympic medal is a huge deal, and how composed they can be is admirable. But let's be honest; most of us would lose our minds at accomplishing something that big.
When Poland's Aleksandra Jarecka won the bronze in the team épée event against China, she broke down in tears on the floor. It was such a raw, emotional moment, reminding us that you don't have to come first to win hearts.
Why we love Andy Murray
Championing vulnerability
Athletes like Noah Lyles, Katie Ledecky, and Sifan Hassan have fearlessly opened up about their health struggles, reminding us that even the strongest competitors can encounter challenges.
Their honest conversations around mental and physical health have sparked widespread discussion, awareness, and a wave of support on social media, empowering those who can relate to share their own stories in the comments and reshares.
This display of vulnerability brings the athletes closer to us and intensifies the significance of their accomplishments, making it all the more impressive to see.
Little sister energy
Chinese gymnast Yaqin Zhou became a viral sensation for her all-too-relatable move on the podium. The 18-year-old athlete clinched silver in the women’s balance beam final, sparking a flood of memes after she tried to bite her medal.
On the podium, the two Italian athletes performed the “medal chomp” tradition after placing, prompting Zhou to double take. Clearly new to Yaqin, the tradition puzzled her, leading her to try the gesture herself.
“Like a little sister copying her big sisters, and it’s too cute!!”
“This Chinese medalist is so relatable. We’ve all been there.”
This is what discovering a trend in real time looks like—admit it, you’ve been here too.
No fancy lenses. Just vibes.
How can we not talk about the “dadcore assassin”?
Yusuf Dikec's laid-back approach in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event catapulted him to stardom. While his rivals relied on the highest-tech gear, Dikec simply aimed and shot with one hand in his pocket, winning silver and becoming a fan favourite for his casual style and exquisite aura.
Even Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, the Swedish world-record and Olympic champion pole vaulter, paid tribute to Dikec's iconic pose in his own celebration.
Making the unrelatable relatable
Athletes have given the Olympics a Gen-Z makeover. They’re redefining the idea of athletic fame, offering glimpses into the behind-the-scenes world of Olympic village life, training days, team rituals, and event prep. It’s raw, real, and relatable. But the pros are jumping on popular trends, too.
US gymnast Suni Lee put her spin on the "Unfortunately, I was not selected for the Olympic Games" trend. Typically, people use the trend to share their crashes and fails, showing the contrast of just how elite the elites are, but Suni flipped it around. For her post, now with over 48M views, she adjusted the caption to state that, unfortunately, she was indeed selected for the Olympics.
By turning a sore moment like this into a relatable experience for sports fans, Suni perfectly showed that even gold medalists can experience those humbling lows.
So, what can we learn?
The buzz around the Olympics has transformed athletes into super-relatable characters, leading to effortlessly shareable content that goes way beyond the reach of regular broadcasting. These moments aren't just about the sports; they highlight the human side of the games.
Whether it's their unique quirks or the infectious energy they bring to their sport, they bridge the gap between elite performers and everyday people, creating a shared experience that fans absolutely adore.
So, what has this shown us about creating successful athlete content?
Relatability: Despite being superhuman, athletes are still regular people like us at their core. Sharing raw and authentic moments helps form deeper connections with the athletes and amplifies the impressiveness of their achievements.
Access: Fans crave exclusivity. Let your athletes invite fans into their world and show them relatable, behind-the-scenes moments they haven't seen before. Content from the Olympic Village has undeniably proven that audiences can't get enough of this.
Personality: Fans are drawn to athletes for more than just their talents. While being among the best in the world helps, fans also connect with the athlete's character, persona, and journey. Showcasing these aspects bridges the gap.
Understanding your audience and what they love is crucial to making more impact with your sports video content. Interested to learn more? Here are six more tips for working with athletes.
Bonus Snoop content
Ok, it’s not quite the athletes of Paris, but once again we get to see that fans adore it when they see two opposing worlds colide. Snoop Dogg in equestrian attire at the Olympics is the crossover we never knew we needed. Shoutout to Snoop for making this year’s Olympics so iconic.
