The Paris Olympics 2024 has not only been a stage for athletic excellence but also a celebration of global pop culture, including anime.
Athletes from various countries have shown their love for anime through creative gestures, poses, and even themed performances.
Here are some of the most notable anime references at the Paris Olympics 2024.
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Rachid Muratake’s Jojo Reference:
Japanese hurdler Rachid Muratake made a striking entrance at the 110m hurdles finals making a JoJo reference. The athlete channeled the spirit of the popular anime, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and struck a pose reminiscent of the series’ signature style.
While he ultimately secured fifth place in the event, Muratake’s JoJo Reference at Paris Olympics 2024 will not be forgotten by the anime’s fans.
Spain’s Jordan Diaz makes Attack on Titan references at Triple Jump event:
After securing Spain’s first-ever Olympic gold in the men’s triple jump, Díaz performed the iconic “Shinzou wo sasageyo” salute from Attack on Titan.
Adding to the anime reference, the champion athlete had also replicated the iconic hand-biting gesture from the same series before his gold-winning jump.
Colombian weightlifter Mari Sanchez shows her love for Luffy:
Colombian weightlifter, Mari Leivis Sánchez, made history at the Paris Olympics by winning the silver medal while proudly sporting Monkey D. Luffy socks from One Piece.
Her teammate, Yeison López, who is nicknamed ‘Goku’, also won the silver medal at Paris Olympics 2024.
Japan’s Men’s Relay Team Unleashes the Shadow Clone Jutsu
Japan’s men’s relay team might have sadly finished 5th at the Paris Olympics 2024 and missed out on a medal.
However, they did show their love for Naruto anime by unleashing the Shadow Clone Jutsu, Naruto Uzumaki’s iconic move from the anime.
Noah Lyles’ Kamehameha and Gojo Domain Expansion:
When it comes to expressing anime fandom, no one did it quite like Noah Lyles. The American sprinter, already famous for his Yu-Gi-Oh! card celebration at the US Trials, continued his reign in Paris.
After claiming gold in the 100m with a blazing finish, he struck a powerful Kamehameha pose from Dragon Ball, much to the delight of the crowd.
And just before his 200m qualifying run, he surprised everyone by mimicking the iconic hand sign used by Satoru Gojo for his Domain Expansion technique in Jujutsu Kaisen.
He went on to claim the bronze medal in the 200m category. He also tested positive for COVID-19 a couple of days before the race.
Family Kamehameha for the French Foil Team:
The French fencing team channeled their inner Son Gokus after securing a bronze medal in the Men’s Team Foil event.
The team performed a synchronized pose reminiscent of the Family Kamehameha from Dragon Ball Z.
Haikyu!! Fever Grips Volleyball Fans:
The volleyball court became a battleground (albeit a friendly one) for Haikyu!! fans. Japan and Argentina’s teams might not have been bitter rivals like Karasuno and Aoba Johsai in the anime, but the crowd sure embraced the spirit.
Fans erupted in cheers for Japan’s “Ryujin Nippon” team during their second match against Argentina, especially when the arena played “Fly High!!” by BURNOUT SYNDROMES, a popular theme song from Haikyu!!.
However, despite the crowd’s enthusiasm (and a glimpse of “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” from MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES!), Japan fell short to Italy in the quarterfinals.
Still, they received a heartwarming illustration from the series’ creator, Haruichi Furudate, acknowledging their valiant effort.
Payton Otterdahl Does Luffy’s Gear 4 Transformation:
Payton Otterdahl of the United States continued his legacy of epic anime entrances. Following his Franky-inspired walk-up at Tokyo 2020, he channeled Luffy’s Gear 4 transformation pose in Paris.
The windup perfectly mirrored a shot-putter’s pre-throw stance, making it a fitting tribute to the One Piece protagonist.
Lorenzo Ndele’s Luffy Gear 5 laugh:
Italy’s Lorenzo Ndele Simonelli wasn’t shy to showcase his anime love either. He re-enacted Luffy’s iconic Gear 5 laughing pose before his 110m Hurdles semi-final run.
Jujutsu Kaisen and Dragon Ball Super Pump Up the Crowd
The love for anime wasn’t limited to athlete celebrations. The Mixed 4x400m Relay saw the United Kingdom team mimicking Gojo Satoru’s hand sign from Jujutsu Kaisen.
And to further energize the crowd, the stadium erupted with the dramatic “Ultra Instinct” theme from Dragon Ball Super as the starter readied for the Men’s 100m final.
Finally, the Japanese Artistic Swimming team added a touch of anime magic to their routine. Their performance, which was set to the soundtrack from NieR:Automata, showcased the love for anime at Paris Olympics 2024!!