TikTok: The New Olympic Arena

Post by

Milica Trnavac

Did you know that TikTok was the most downloaded app in the world in 2023?

So it’s no surprise that the Olympics, one of the biggest global events, found a natural home on the platform. Fans and athletes alike have embraced “OlympicTok,” turning it into a nonstop stream of epic moments and viral trends. From Alessandro Mazzara’s skateboarding tricks to Romane Dicko’s judo gold medal celebration, TikTok has given us a front-row seat to all the action.

The TikTok Olympics: How Paris 2024 became the ultimate social media playground

Now that the Paris Olympics are over, everyone’s buzzing about what the Games brought us—besides just medals.

And at the heart of it all was TikTok. From the moment the opening ceremony aired, TikTok was at the centre of every conversation. Whether it was the mixed reactions to the grand kickoff, opening ceremony to the drama over the cardboard beds, or the not-so-appetizing food at the Olympic Village, TikTok had it covered.

Remember the River Seine drama? This topic trended on TikTok for weeks! It was clear that TikTok wasn’t just a platform for entertainment; it became a necessary source of information during the Olympics. Daily dramas, viral moments, and everything in between were all brought to us through TikTok, turning athletes into stars and making the Games more interactive than ever before.

Athletes who produced content regularly saw their fame skyrocket. You probably heard about Simone Biles and the drama surrounding her husband’s alleged lack of support, or the wild story of viral French pole vaulter Anthony Ammirati getting a racy job offer from a porn site—both stories that blew up thanks to TikTok. The audience wasn’t just watching; they were interacting and, in many cases, creating stars out of these athletes. All thanks to TikTok.

TikTok: the new Olympic arena

Forget the traditional podium—these days, the real competition is happening on TikTok. Over 10,000 athletes competed in Paris 2024, but only a handful went home with medals. The real winners? Those who mastered the art of TikTok. This year’s Olympics saw a surge in athletes using the platform to share everything from pre-race jitters to behind-the-scenes moments in the Olympic Village. With over 1.3 million posts under the hashtag #Olympics, it’s clear that TikTok has become the go-to place for fans to keep up with their favourite athletes.

And it’s not just about the numbers—athletes are getting creative with their content. Take Gabby Thomas, for example. The Team USA runner shared her raw, pre-race nerves with her followers, and when she crushed the 200m, her TikTok blew up. Talk about a winning strategy!

Top trending moments on OlympicTok

Honest Athlete Moments: Gabby Thomas’ pre-race TikTok wasn’t just relatable—it was a viral hit. Her honest look at pre-race nerves and her eventual victory made her a fan favourite.

Romantic Olympics: Paris isn’t just the city of love—it’s the city of Olympic love. Fans can’t stop gushing over the romance stories unfolding during the Games. Who knew sports could be so heartwarming?

Brazil’s Winning Streak: Brazil’s teams are on fire, and TikTok is loving it! With the women’s football and volleyball teams advancing to the final and semi-final rounds, and the men’s beach volleyball team competing in the quarterfinals, fans are flooding the platform with celebratory edits.

Female Empowerment: This year’s female Olympians are stealing the show, and TikTok users are creating hype edits that showcase their incredible accomplishments. Who runs the world? Girls—especially on TikTok.

TikTok by the numbers: A Paris 2024 overview

#Olympics: Over 1.3 million posts
#Paris2024: 451,600 posts
#TeamUSA: 128,500 posts
#Olympics2024: 104,700 posts
#ParisOlympics2024: 92,700 posts
#TeamGB: 15,400 posts
#OlympicVillage: 4,900 posts

With such impressive numbers, it's clear that TikTok is the true star of Paris 2024.

TikTok as the new Olympic sponsor?

Okay, so TikTok isn’t officially sponsoring the Olympics (yet), but with the way things are going, it might as well be! The app has become a crucial part of how fans and athletes experience the Games, bringing a whole new level of engagement and entertainment to the event.