Viewers watching the 2018 Winter Olympics, held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, tuned in to NBC for the opening ceremony with high expectations — and plenty of questions. Where is Pita Taufatofua, the flag-bearer for Tonga, and how much oil is he slathered in? Can Katie Couric, Mike Tirico and Joshua Cooper Ramo possibly live up to Bob Costas’ commentary during the ceremony? And, wait, are those kids going to dance nonstop through the Parade of Nations?
Suffice it to say that the 2018 Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony did not disappoint.
From the U.S. team walking out to “Gangnam Style” (of course) and the arrival of North Korea’s “army of beauties” to U.S. speed skater Shani Davis skipping the opening ceremony in protest and viewers confusing the South Korean flag for the Pepsi logo, these were some of the most talked-about moments thus far. Because, really, the Olympics have just begun.
Be sure to check back through the course of the Winter Olympics, as we’ll continue to update this space with history-making wins, any controversies that arise, any hilarious eagle-eye observations on Twitter and more. Let the games continue to trend!
Yuna Kim Steals the Show
South Korean superstar figure skater Yuna Kim lit the Olympic cauldron with a beautiful performance. Kim, who won two Olympic medals before retiring in 2014, is the first woman to light an Olympic cauldron alone since 2006 and the youngest solo lighter since 1994.
North Korea’s “Army of Beauties” Arrive
While North Korea sent 12 athletes to the Winter Olympics, it's their 230 cheerleaders who are stealing the spotlight. Called the "army of beauties," the cheerleading squad presents a "dollhouse version" of military service. According to The New Yorker, women in their late teens and early 20s are selected from the country's most prestigious universities.
U.S. Olympian Shani Davis Skips Opening Ceremony
Speed skater Shani Davis was so upset he wasn't chosen as America's flag bearer (losing a coin toss to luger Erin Hamlin), he decided to skip the opening ceremony in protest. He told The Hollywood Reporter, "No problem. I can wait until 2022."
Gay Athletes March With Pride
Gay athletes Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy took to Twitter to share how it felt to be competing openly and freely at the Olympics. Skier Kenworthy tweeted, "We're here. We're queer. Get used to it." Figure skater Rippon called it "one of the greatest honors" of his life and that doing it as his "authentic self makes it all so much sweeter." But what’s even sweeter is Kenworthy’s tweet directed at Vice President Mike Pence following the opening ceremony: “Eat your heart out, Pence.”
South Korean Flag or Pepsi Logo?
During a live stream of the opening ceremony, people scratched their heads and took to Twitter to ask: Is that the Pepsi logo? Clearly, a lot of people don't know what the South Korean flag looks like…
Team USA Walked Out to “Gangnam Style”
How very 2012. As teams entered the arena for the Parade of Nations, Psy’s “Gangnam Style” started playing — and Team USA had the honor to walk, some of them dancing, through it.
Dancing Nonstop During Parade of Nations
As 91 countries and groups walked the Parade of Nations during the opening ceremony, a ring of dancers danced — and didn't stop. The synchronized dance thoroughly impressed spectators, who applauded the group for their stamina. They even did the "Gangnam Style" dance the entire time it blared through the arena!
Tonga’s Shirtless Flag Bearer Is Back
Not even freezing temps could stop Tonga's Pita Taufatofua from carrying the country's flag at the opening ceremony shirtless… again. The Polynesian athlete first caught everyone's attention at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro when he walked out sans shirt and greased up.
Opening Ceremony Commentary Was a Bust
Commentary by Katie Couric, Mike Tirico and Joshua Cooper Ramo during the opening ceremony didn't win people over. In fact, many viewers took to Twitter to complain about it, with one in particular stating that Couric's comments were borderline offensive. Eek, better luck next time.
Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team Makes Olympic History
Three Nigerian-American women have already made history, and they haven't even competed in the Olympics yet. Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga are the women behind the first-ever African bobsled team to qualify for the Olympics. Here's the bobsleigh schedule, so you don't miss them compete.
And the First Gold Medal Goes to…
Sweden's Charlotte Kalla won the women's cross-country, the first Olympic gold medal of this year’s games.
But it's Norway's Marit Bjøergen, securing the silver medal, who made history: She is now the most decorated female Winter Olympian of all time.
Mirai Nagasu’s Historic Triple Axel
In the first 30 seconds of her routine for the women's free skate event, Nagasu managed to land a triple axel. Landing this incredibly difficult move, which requires making three and a half rotations in one jump, has only been completed successfully twice before and Nagasu was the first American woman competing at the Olympics to make the jump successfully.
Adam Rippon Steals the Show
Adam Rippon's Olympics debut led to him nabbing a bronze medal and causing a social media frenzynot only because they fell in love with him (and honestly, who wouldn't? He's so charming!) but because some felt like the judges had favored the skaters who beat him even though they fell. Do I sense a #JusticeForRippon hashtag in the near future?
The Figure Skating Music Was on Point
Two international figure skaters didn't miss the chance toskate to some truly amazing music at the Olympics. Over the first Olympics weekend, French figure skater Maé-Bérénice Méité chose Beyoncé's "Halo" and "Run the World (Girls)" as thesoundtrack to her amazing program. Additionally, South Korean team members Yura Min and Alexander Gamelin chose to skate to the 2017 earworm "Despacito"while doing their routine. Amazing.
Chloe Kim Makes Snowboarding History
The 17-year-old snowboarder made history when she became the youngest womanto snag a gold medal for snowboarding in the Women's Halfpipe event.
Eric Radford Secures a Milestone LGBTQ Moment at the Olympics
The Canadian figure skater became thefirst openly gay athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics and was part of an elite group of high-profile gay athletes, including Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy, to compete this year.
Shaun White Dominated Yet Again
White wowed the world once more with an impressive run during his Men's Halfpipe event. He made Olympics history after getting the gold for his run, making him the only three-time gold medalist snowboarded to have competed at the Olympics.
Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian Tears Up During a Press Conference
Jamaican bobsled team captain Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian held back tears as she explained what it means to be on an Olympic team comprised of women of color and what it means to be considered an inspiration to the Jamaican people.
"So, coming back home to Jamaica, I wanted my Jamaican people to see that they could do it. And there’s not just one path that way or one path this way to get out of poverty, to make money or to make a name for themselves. If they want to be a Winter Olympian and do alpine skiing, now they see their fellow Jamaicans in the Winter Olympics."
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