The Best Moments and Personalities from the Summer Games (2024)

Let’s take a look at some of the best moments and most popular athletes of the 2024 Summer Games – according to social media.

Disclaimer: This report is provided for informational purposes only. Brandwatch is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or the Olympic Games. All data and insights presented are based on independent analysis and are not intended to imply any formal relationship with the Olympic entities.

This year’s 2024 Summer Games have dominated social media. With athletes sharing everything from secret behind-the-scenes videos about their living quarters, to winning gold medals, fans can’t get enough.

Let’s take a look at which athletes have seen the biggest engagement on social, plus we’ll dive into some of the most positive moments.

For more insights on consumer outlook and viewers' first impressions towards the event, you can read our previous blog on the 2024 Summer Games here.

The most positive moments

We used Brandwatch Consumer Research to find some of the most positive social media posts about the Summer Games that have gained traction among fans.

Camaraderie in gymnastics triumphs on social

A moment of pure sportsmanship got millions of fans talking on social media.

A post from the official @Olympics account went viral in hours, depicting Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowing to Rebeca Andrade after she won gold in the women's floor gymnastics final.

The incredible display of sportsmanship sparked plenty of joy on X, with the post gaining over 180k retweets and over 40 million views.

Many were happy to see the values of the Summer Games being exemplified on social.

The opening ceremony gets people talking

The opening ceremony is always a defining moment. And this year was no exception. Plenty of people took to social media to share their thoughts on the ceremony – and opinions were mixed.

With some scenes in the ceremony depicting the Last Supper in a controversial light, many took to social media to express their distaste towards the portrayal.

That said, the ceremony sparked a lot of positivity and plenty enjoyed the extravagance of the ceremony, sharing their delight online.

You can read more about the discussion surrounding the opening ceremony in our previous blog on the 2024 Summer Games here.

One gymnast’s reaction to her fellow medalists goes viral

A post showing Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin’s reaction to two Italian gymnast’s podium celebrations has garnered over 16 million views and 400k likes.

Zhou noticed her fellow medalists were biting their medals for a photo – and decided to join in.

This innocent display of joint celebration enthralled fans on social media, who couldn’t get enough of the small gesture.

An unexpected visitor joins the surfing tournament

A whale was spotted during the coverage of the surfing event this year, and a combination of posts sharing videos of the spectacle went viral – gathering millions of views.

The surprise factor was a key contributor to the video gathering attention, with many saying the whale deserves its very own medal.

The most popular athletes

Using Brandwatch Influence, we discovered athletes competing at the Summer Games that are receiving impressive engagement on Instagram.

Rayssa Leal

16-year-old Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal is causing a storm over on Instagram. As one of the youngest people to earn a medal, she is being celebrated for her impressive skills – earning 548,000 average engagements per post.

One of her recent posts about the 2024 Summer Games has seen almost 2.5 million likes.

Brazilian fans are keen to support Rayssa through her journey in sports as she continues to excel.

Logan Martin

BMX rider Logan Martin’s Instagram is a hub for action shots, cool content, and videos of him cycling. 2024 marks Logan’s second ever participation in the Summer Games, and he’s become a fan favorite.

One of Logan’s most popular posts showcases him sharing his love for BMX riding with his children. His kids show how there’s no age limit to start something new.

Lorrane Oliveira

Lorrane Oliveira is a Brazilian artistic gymnastic and medalist. With an average engagement of 325,000 on her posts, Lorrane’s fanbase is thriving.

Her posts range from celebrating her teammates to showing how she braids her hair, and her fans are keen to see how she fairs both in her sporting career and out of it.

Simone Biles

Artistic gymnast Simone Biles is a huge fan favorite when it comes to the Summer Games. Her unmatched athletic ability, training regime, and work ethic is inspiring fans across the globe.

The Gold medalist isn’t new to the Summer Games – she’s been competing since 2016. She’s renowned in the sporting world, and her lovability has helped her climb to fame on social media too.

With her posts gaining an average engagement of 312,000, it’s safe to say she’s a popular pick among fans.

Jonathan Hilbert

German racewalker and Silver medalist Jonathan Hilbert has received plenty of engagement on Instagram over the last 6 months.

With a staggering engagement rate of over 900%, his Instagram reels showcasing the speed that racewalkers travel at has attracted millions of people’s attention.

For example, the video below has received almost half a million likes.

Roundup

The Summer Games is an event that inspires worldwide. Whether you prefer gymnastics or BMX riding, there’s always something for everyone to enjoy. And that enjoyment is widely shared on social.

By tracking the mentions online, we can discover which moments and personalities are the most celebrated by consumers. The key to making such positive waves on social? Whether it’s a small gesture of camaraderie or a huge whale showing up, it’s the unexpected moments that are met with love and playfulness that have risen above the rest this summer.

We’ve been covering the 2024 Summer Games on our social media accounts too, so make sure to give us a follow on Instagram for all the latest.

Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not imply any affiliation with, endorsem*nt by, or official connection to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or the Olympic Games.