Wholesome Moments from The Olympics Which Will Make You Go “Aww”

The 18-year-old from China made her Olympic debut this year and won silver in the women’s balance beam event in artistic gymnastics. When she took to the podium, she cutely looked over to the other winners, saw them biting their medals and quickly followed suit.

Zhou Yaqin has to be the cutest Olympic medallist so far. ?? pic.twitter.com/X9PWEManio

— Amit Shah (Parody) (@Motabhai012) August 7, 2024

Marriage proposals

Paris is famously known as the City of Love, and although the athletes are focused on winning their events, they’re still making time for romance. French runner Alice Finot went viral for proposing to her boyfriend after shattering the European women's 3000m steeplechase record. She proposed to her sweetheart after the race with an Olympic pin instead of a traditional diamond ring. How sweet!

As reported by the Daily Mail, she said, “I told myself that if I ran under nine minutes, knowing that nine is my lucky number and that we've been together for nine years, then I would propose. I don't like doing things like everyone else. Since he hadn't done it yet, I told myself that maybe it was up to me to do it. So, I gave a pin that I ran with to my boyfriend. On it, it says: Love is in Paris.”

French athlete came in fourth in the 3000m steeplechase, a European record, and asked for her boyfriend's hand ...pic.twitter.com/ofs9DocirE

— Figen (@TheFigen_) August 7, 2024

Another couple also got engaged at the Games. After Huang Yaqiong won the gold medal in the badminton mixed doubles, her boyfriend, Liu Yuchen, an Olympic badminton player, got down on one knee and proposed.

"I’ll love you forever! Will you marry me?""Yes! I do!"OMG!!! Romance at the Olympics!!!❤️❤️❤️Huang Yaqiong just had her "dream come true", winning a badminton mixed doubles gold medal?with her teammate Zheng SiweiThen her boyfriend Liu Yuchen proposed! ??? pic.twitter.com/JxMIipF7ij

— Li Zexin (@XH_Lee23) August 2, 2024

Gymnasts from Canada consoled a French gymnast

Although they are technically rivals, Canada’s Ellie Black and Shallon Olsen were seen consoling French gymnast Melanie de Jesus dos Santos following a qualifying event where the latter failed to qualify for the final. They were seen giving her hugs and speaking gently to her. This is what true sportsmanship is about!

Love that the current generation of athletes are bringing sportsmanship back to the Olympicspic.twitter.com/X2tm727TEN

— Know Your History (@H54355Know) August 8, 2024

Chinese diver seen adorably collecting soft toys

Quan Hongchan already went viral during the Tokyo Olympics 2020 due to her admirable diving skills and practically making no splash in the pool each time. This year, she has stunned again by winning numerous gold medals. The 17-year-old has also won the hearts of many due to her lovable demeanour outside of the pool. She was seen collecting more soft toys thrown by fans than her arms could hold. Hen ke ai!

@yls.movie #fyp #fypシ゚viral #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #全红婵 ♬ 原聲 - YLSmovie

Lee Zii Jia lets reporter wear his medal

Badminton player Lee Zii Jia made Malaysia proud this week after an incredible game in which he won the bronze medal. He also showed how sweet and humble he was when he told a Malaysian reporter he was close to wear his bronze medal around his neck whilst he interviewed him.

@zj___iykmn Bangmed selalu ade dgn dia, supporter no.1 lee zii jia #leeziijia#bangmed #badminton #olimpikparis2024 #fyp #fypシ ♬ hall of fame - 3 minute audios

Australian gold medalist asks her parents for a pet duck

Although all athletes are the best in the world and may appear like robots due to their immense skill, sometimes they prove that they are just human like the rest of us. Australian skateboarder Arisa Trew, who is only 14 years old, made history by becoming the youngest Australian Olympic medalist ever. However, the young athlete only had a simple request as a gift from her parents: a pet duck she’s thinking of calling Goldie!

@10newsfirst Arisa Trew’s checklist: Gold Medal ✅ Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic medallist ✅ Pet duck ? Australia’s teenage golden girl has just one thing on her mind following her incredible Olympic win, a pet duck she was promised by her parents. The 14-year-old took home gold in the women’s skateboarding park final, to make her Australia’s youngest ever Olympic medallist. #arisatrew #olympics #paris2024 #australia #skateboarding #wholesome #petduck #10sport #10newsfirst ♬ original sound - 10 News First Australia

Simone Biles bows down to Brazilian gymnast after the latter wins gold

Biles is known as the G.O.A.T of the gymnastics world, but she only won silver behind Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade in the floor final. She showed her humility when she along with her US teammate and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles bowed down to Andrade on the podium.

The story behind Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles’ viral bow to Rebeca Andrade after she won gold on floor at #Paris2024#artisticgymnastics #olympics pic.twitter.com/go3E7rQ1aq

— Gymnastics Now (@Gymnastics_Now) August 5, 2024

Italian Olympian loses his wedding ring but turns it into a romantic situation

If you’re married and lose your wedding ring, you’ll probably be shaking at explaining the situation to your partner, right? This is what happened to Italian high jumper Gianmarco Tamberi who lost his wedding ring during the opening ceremony when he was flag-waving for his country.

He then wrote a beautiful Instagram post to his wife, "If it had to happen, if I had to lose this ring, I couldn't imagine a better place," he wrote, claiming the ring will now "remain forever in the riverbed of the city of love". He called the situation "poetic" and suggested they also throw Chiara's ring in the river. "(Then) they will be together forever, and we will have one more excuse to renew our vows and marry again," he said. It goes to show that you can make any situation into a positive one!

South Korean shooter who went viral for being cool brought around her child’s stuffed animal

South Korean sharpshooter Kim Yeji went viral worldwide because of her overflowing aura of being cool and looking like a sci-fi assassin when she won her event. While everyone aspired to have the same aura as her, she also showed her soft spot while wearing a small elephant-shaped stuffed animal, which belongs to her five-year-old daughter, while competing. Can everyone say, aww?

Chinese athlete goes viral for Hello Kitty rifle

Zhang Qiongyue won a bronze medal in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions shooting last week, but she caught everyone’s attention because of her rifle. It was decorated with numerous Hello Kitty stickers, and she even changed her top bolt handle to one that resembled an arcade stick. Zhang wore a ribbon hairclip à la Hello Kitty and a pink visor.

Which was your favourite moment?

---