Olympic Athletes on Social Media

It’s not easy to ignore the effect and revolution that social media and technology have had on our society in the past few years. With the constant rise of platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, not only can you see the whole lives of your friends and family but also everyone's favorite celebrities with an online presence as well. New influencers are pouring out of every platform, giving events such as the Olympics a worldwide connection for the audience. 

This past Summer 2024 Olympics in Paris, as a spectator from my living room, not only was I following the coverage of each sport, but I was finding my favorite players on social media and getting an inside look at their outfits, getting-ready processes, and their relationships.  It was incredibly interesting. As it is evident that social media has changed the game for advertising and participation, let's take a look at some of the athletes that rose to popularity and see what they are doing post-Olympics…

Stephen Nedoroscik - “Pommel Horse Guy” 

From the U.S. men's gymnastics team, Stephen Nedoroscik took a rise in popularity after his impressive runs on the pommel horse and helping bring home a bronze medal for the team. Fans were blown away by his performance; due to his somewhat small size and glasses, his ability was overlooked. Soon proving the crowd wrong, he showed himself as an incredibly strong athlete and a kind soul.

Now Stephen is competing on Dancing with Stars, partnered up with Rylee Arnold, and creating some iconic behind-the-scenes moments for the internet to share. Rylee is also quite popular on TikTok after her debut on Dancing with the Stars last season, showing off her amazing dancing skills. The viral dancing duo has taken over TikTok bringing in even more money and attention to the franchise.  

Ilona Maher

Another amazing athlete and inspiration to girls who follow her on social media, rugby player Ilona Maher has made her platform a goofy outlet while also breaking stereotypes and spreading important messages on body positivity to her followers. 

With some comedic and iconic moments behind the scenes in the “Olympic Villa,” Maher brought some great attention to her sport and the Olympic games. Creating a positive environment on her page and bringing awareness to women’s rugby, the 2024 games would not have been the same without her presence. 

Maher is also now onto Dancing with the Stars, continuing to bring some of the best content in the game. Being able to witness how much fun she creates out of every experience is truly inspiring, and once again a great tactic on the show's part, as she has brought her followers and positive energy right onto the show. 

Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall

One couple broke the internet by both winning gold medals in their events: Tara in the Olympics and Hunter participating in the Paralympics. The care and encouragement they brought onto the TV screen was beautiful, not only supporting each other tirelessly but also others from their country. TikTok videos of each athlete celebrating for the other and their wins invoked so much emotion, creating a deeper meaning to the games altogether. 

Both of them performed wonderfully in their track events; this was beyond just participating in the games. Training together and pushing one another to be the best they could be brought motivation to the crowd and followers. Hunter was devoted to the Paralympics and brought support to these athletes who were working just as long and hard as those who were competing in the Olympics. He took this opportunity and took full advantage. His presence on social media brought support to the Paralympics, and he used his platform in such a powerful way, being able to bring change and attention to many deserving athletes.