Zhou Yaqin Chinese gymnast adorable metal-biting moment goes viral at Paris Olympics 2024

Zhou Yaqin experienced something new at Paris 2024.

The 18-year-old, competing in her first Olympics at the Bercy Arena, earned a silver medal in the women’s balance beam event in artistic gymnastics.

After competing in the balance beam final, 18-year-old Yaqin secured the silver medal with a score of 14.100. Italian gymnasts Alice D’Amato and Manila Esposito won gold and bronze with scores of 14.366 and 13.866, respectively.

During the medal ceremony on Monday (5 August), as the three women stood on the podium, D’Amato and Esposito bit their medals for a photo, a gesture that Yaqin, from the People’s Republic of China, was unaware of.

She glanced at her Italian counterparts, saw them biting their medals, and promptly mimicked the gesture by lifting her silver medal to her mouth.

This charming moment quickly went viral on social media, with many fans applauding her ability to adapt quickly and others highlighting the display of Olympic camaraderie.

The tradition of athletes biting their medals dates back to early traders who used to bite gold coins to verify their authenticity.

Today, this gesture has become a tradition and is a popular pose among photographers, fans, and Olympic medallists.

Comments poured in from fans touched by Yaqin’s genuine charm. “Her genuine innocence is so refreshing to see,” one user wrote. Another praised her for her sweet gestures during the games, noting, “She was also giving hugs to every competitor as they completed their series, she’s so cutee.”

“She’s so pure,” a user commented, while another exclaimed, “I love her innocence! This is the video of the year, so cute.”