The 2024 Paris Olympics have introduced a new internet sensation: South Korean sharpshooter Kim Yeji.
The 31-year-old athlete has captivated audiences worldwide with her impressive performances and striking presence.
Kim’s silver medal win in the 10-meter air pistol event on Sunday was remarkable, but it was a video of her earlier performance in Azerbaijan this May that truly ignited online buzz. The footage, which has garnered over seven million views on X (formerly Twitter), features Kim’s exceptional focus and precision as she effortlessly breaks a world record.
Dressed in a backwards cap and futuristic shooting glasses, Kim’s intense focus and relaxed reaction to her record-setting feat have made her a global favorite. “She’s impossibly cool, casually breaks world records, and is the internet’s latest sensation,” one admirer commented.
Kim’s distinctive style has also caught social media’s eye. Her sleek Fila jacket, Sauer shooting shoes, and the playful stuffed elephant hanging from her pocket have all been widely praised.
A viral image shared on X by the account Women Posting W has perfectly captured Kim’s magnetic presence. The photo, which has received over 300,000 likes, shows the Olympian leaning back with one hand on her hip and the other casually holding a pistol, her ponytail peeking out from her cap. The caption describes it as “the most aura I have ever seen in an image.”
Fans have showered Kim with accolades, praising her “main character energy” and declaring her the ultimate “mother”—a top-tier form of internet praise. Even X’s owner, Elon Musk, suggested that Kim should be cast in an action movie.
As a first-time Olympian, Kim showcased her world-class talent, securing the silver medal in the 10-meter air pistol event, with her 19-year-old teammate Oh Ye Jin winning gold.
