With thousands of the world’s best athletes gathered together, it can be hard to stand out at the Olympics – but a South Korean sharpshooter made becoming the internet’s latest crush look effortless.

Kim Yeji was named the coolest athlete at Paris 2024 by social media users after images of her competing in the 10-metre air pistol women’s event went viral.

She won the silver medal on July 28 (local time), losing her chance of gold to her Olympic Village roommate Oh Ye Jin, who set an Olympic record of 243.2.

But 31-year-old Kim stole the show with her style and ‘main character’ energy.

Clad in a black ensemble, white cap and silver jewellery, she also wore sci-fi-esque bespoke shooting glasses.

An elephant towel toy reportedly belonging to her five-year-old daughter hung from Kim’s pants; South Korean media reports Kim was only able to see her daughter through video calls for months before the Games as she trained at the Jincheon National Training Centre.

Combined with a seemingly laid-back stance when shooting, Kim cut a striking figure.

Images of the sharpshooter at the Games quickly circulated online, along with older footage of Kim competing at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in May, where she broke the world record in the women’s 25-metre pistol.

Omg her daughter’s elephant doll was with her during the olympics🥹 Kim Yeji is MOTHERING. pic.twitter.com/kiZlb7Beia

— Lit 🍉 (@hahyunsing) July 30, 2024

the most aura I have ever seen in an image pic.twitter.com/HHo8yCV5O4

— Women Posting W’s (@womenpostingws) July 30, 2024

Just so we’re clear, the South Korean Air Pistol team of Oh Ye Jin and Kim Yeji (hat) took Gold and Silver for the 10m Air Pistol competition at Paris 2024.

One wore her daughter’s elephant doll while the other’s pistol sight had a pink heart.

This is the hardest shit ever. pic.twitter.com/vU1j4xOKJ4

— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) July 30, 2024

John Wick has been real quiet since these pictures of South Korea’s Kim Yeji dropped pic.twitter.com/KBB3Ryf9dk

— The GIST USA (@thegistusa) July 30, 2024

This girl is a movie character like how is she real pic.twitter.com/hys1bLyj4t

— Daniel (@growing_daniel) July 30, 2024

After her record performance in May, Kim said she had “nothing to improve” ahead of the Olympics and her “confidence was based on a foundation”.

After losing the top spot in the Olympic 10-metre event to her South Korean teammate, Kim said she was “extra happy” because Oh was like a “youngest sibling”.

“I do not view her as my rival,” Kim said.

“This is a big stage, the Olympics, and we won the gold and silver. When we won these medals, we were so proud we are Koreans.”

Kim will compete in the 25-metre pistol women’s qualification round on August 2 for the chance to advance to the final on August 3.

She is not the only Olympic athlete to leave a lasting impression on viewers at home.

While Kim was lauded for her sleek style, 51-year-old Turkish air pistol hooter Yusuf Dikec also won scores of new fans for his laid-back style.

Dikec scored the silver medal in the mixed team 10-metre air pistol event alongside 24-year-old teammate Sevval Tarhan while wearing a casual shirt, loose athletic pants, and regular prescription glasses instead of special eyewear designed to enhance his performance.

With a relaxed hand in his pocket while shooting, Dikec was inevitably compared with Kim.

Turkey sent a 51 yr old guy with no specialized lenses, eye cover or ear protection and got the silver medal pic.twitter.com/sFKcsRzvrw

— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) July 31, 2024

girls packing for a trip vs guys packing for a trip pic.twitter.com/iL9K20Ni5J

— saltypickles (@nonpoccafe) July 31, 2024

This is what you call aura

51-year-old Yusuf Dikec of Turkey shows up without any specialist equipment for shooting, looking like he just came out of the crowd and gave it a go… he just casually took home silver at the Olympics 🫡 pic.twitter.com/ANrB7PyfxP

— LADbible (@ladbible) July 31, 2024

Images of American gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik similarly flooded the internet as social media users became enamoured with his Clark Kent-style switch from meditating (or possibly napping) on the sidelines, to whipping off his glasses and nailing his pommel horse routine during the men’ gymnastics team events.

Although gymnasts are usually expected to compete in several events, the 25-year-old has specialised in the pommel horse discipline for a decade.

He was credited as the main reason America’s men’s gymnastics team broke its 16-year Olympic medal drought this week with a bronze.

Obsessed with this guy on the US men’s gymnastics team who’s only job is pommel horse, so he just sits there until he’s activated like a sleeper agent, whips off his glasses like Clark Kent and does a pommel horse routine that helps deliver the team its first medal in 16 years. pic.twitter.com/0D1ZqJjFa1

— Megan 📚 (@MegWritesBooks) July 29, 2024

LETS GO POMMEL HORSE GUY. ITS TIME TO POMMEL THAT HORSE https://t.co/dKmFvh79D5

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) July 29, 2024

Stephen Nedoroscik is the pommel horse hero we didn’t know we needed. Swipe to see how the internet reacted to his historic, iconic, beautiful routine at the #ParisOlympics2024. pic.twitter.com/EsRGqZOF18

— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) July 30, 2024

Fellow American, rugby player Ilona Maher already boasted a massive social media following before the Games.

But her online posts and athletic prowess – her team beat Australia for bronze, America’s first Olympic medal for rugby sevens – has only elevated her popularity over the past week.

My favorite thing about the Olympics is Ilona Maher. Follow her on IG or TT, she’s authentic, funny, sweet and it’s refreshing. https://t.co/RCd8SIa4eC pic.twitter.com/P25jXAwxwf

— Ariadna Jacob (@littlemissjacob) July 27, 2024

Ilona Maher’s run-out was perfection at the #ParisOlympics. 💯

🎥 TikTok/@ilonamaher pic.twitter.com/tXjWKAT75j

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) July 28, 2024

Once again USA Rugby player @ilona_maher is crushing it on TikTok, now just as much about having fun w/ fans & her TikTok community alongside giving a glimpse of what life is like at the Olympics for an athlete

Very well-done https://t.co/smH95mfgma Athlete social at its finest pic.twitter.com/hM7aQF8rNy

— Neil Horowitz (@njh287) July 26, 2024

Congratulations to the USA Women’s Rugby team! 📸: @ilona_maher pic.twitter.com/REG5PjTCKZ

— Kelce Brothers (@kelcebrothers) July 30, 2024

Maher told CBS Mornings said she was “honoured” to be raising rugby’s profile with girls.

“It was important for me to show I am funny, but I’m also the real deal and also a very good rugby player,” she said this week, as reported by Associated Press.

“And so it was important for me to show that you can be anything. You can be beast, beauty, brains.”