Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Tom Dierberger

Chinese Gymnast Copying Italian Celebration on Olympic Podium Was Incredibly Wholesome

Yaqin Zhou of Team China stands next to Italians Alice D'Amato and Manila Esposito on the podium during the medal ceremony for the balance beam final. | Tom Weller / VOIGT

After starring in the women's balance beam final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on Monday, Chinese gymnast Yaqin Zhou became a viral sensation for her all-too-relatable move on the podium.

Zhou battled through the unique conditions of the balance beam final to post a 14.100 score, enough to earn the silver medal. She was sandwiched in the standings by a pair of Italian gymnasts in gold medalist Alice D'Amato and bronze medalist Manila Esposito, and found herself standing by both on the podium in the medal ceremony.

While Italy's national anthem played, the 18-year-old Zhou looked to her left and noticed D'Amato and Esposito were biting their medals. So Zhou followed suit—almost—by putting her silver medal up to her mouth but not biting it.

Too funny.

Olympic fans loved the moment from Zhou:


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Chinese Gymnast Copying Italian Celebration on Olympic Podium Was Incredibly Wholesome.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.