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Olympians are the most impressive athletes in the world. Watching them show off their superhuman strength, stamina, and fitness, it’s easy to forget that many of them are not just mortals, but teens and 20s, effectively living in dorms, their emotions and hormones whirling as they race for the ultimate honor. in sports.

Athletes at the Olympic Games in Tokyo were quite candid on social media when they were not competing. Posts from the past two weeks, many of which are on TikTok, show this year’s Olympians flirting, knitting, dancing, answering personal questions and, of course, making sex jokes.

Here’s an example of what happens during downtime, as seen on the smallest screens.

‘Anti-Sex’ Beds and Free Condoms

All the athletes, such as the Israeli baseball team, the Irish gymnast, the American rugby players, have posted videos of themselves and their teammates. trying to spoil cardboard beds In the Olympic Village. Many of these “bed testing” videos were a humorous response to the rumor that recycled mattresses were provided as a way to discourage athletes from having sex. (Well this is not the case, according to the company that makes them.)

Taking the Olympic Village’s reputation as a tethering site with another joke, British diver Noah Williams posted a TikTok video of himself and teammate Tom Daley opening hundreds of free condoms. (Contraceptives have been provided by Olympic organizers for over 30 years to promote sexual health.)

Will you meet me after the tour?

Other Olympians use social media to flirt or at least openly admire their rivals from afar.

Tyler Downs, an Olympic diver, posted a video of Simone Biles on TikTok asking the medal-winning gymnast to “talk to 2 of me.” A Japanese fencer named Kaito Streets took the same approach as tennis player Naomi Osaka. While the videos are flirtatious, it’s unlikely that young men are thinking about anything more than getting the attention of sports idols and fans.

Commentator Gus Kenworthy posted a compilation of male athletes, some of whom were shirtless, with Charli XCX’s “Boys” playing in the background. The words are nothing short of delicacy: “I was busy thinking about boys/Boys, Boys/I was busy daydreaming about boys.”

Ilona Maher, a member of the USA women’s rugby team, did not hide her search for an “Olympic bae” in Tokyo and posted several videos about spotting “Olympic demigods” and making prolonged eye contact.

One user asked why Olympians wouldn’t talk to each other in person. “It’s not that easy to go to a team of six or seven Romanian volleyball players and shoot my ball,” Ms Maher said in a video. “I’m working on it, but I don’t know if that’s on the cards for me.”

Ask Me Anything, Olympic Village Edition

In addition to the stupid posts, many athletes opened the curtain of life in the Olympic Village and shared images of the manicure salon, gift shop, driverless minibuses, massage center and florist.

United States volleyball player Kelsey Marie Robinson reviews the food in the village cafeteria. In one video, she pans salmon, steak, peaches, melon, fried squid, seaweed rice balls, vegetable tempura, and chocolate mousse. The foam really caught his attention (“10/10,” Miss Robinson wrote.)

Erica Ogwumike, a medical school student who plays basketball for the Nigerian team, gave a brief overview of the “outpatient clinic” where athletes can receive acupuncture, dermatology treatments, physiotherapy and more.

Various athletes answered frequently asked questions about their sport, themselves, and taking part in the Olympics. (“How tall are you?” is a common question for volleyball players.)

Cody Melphy, an American rugby player, used the TikTok page to answer more niche questions, such as whether athletes are allowed to keep the duvets that come with their cardboard beds (which are) and what happens if an athlete’s laundry gets lost (Mr. Melphy washed his used clothes in a tub).

Swimmer and gold medalist Mr. Daley, featured in the condom-breaking video, also shares his progress on knitting projects. Open an Instagram page devoted to knit and crochet creations, said the hobby kept her “sound”.

Some contestants included their fans in the experience before they even arrived in Tokyo. Liza Pletneva, a rhythmic gymnast from the United States, documented her team’s journey from home, which consisted of a six-hour layover in Amsterdam, an 11-hour flight to Tokyo, and a five-hour procedure upon arrival.

In the comments to these videos, TikTok users are expressing their appreciation for how much insider scoop Olympians have posted. Actor Noah Schnapp, known for his role in “Stranger Things”, posted a video on TikTok saying that he didn’t know that Olympic athletes were so “funny and normal” and that seeing their routines on TikTok changed the whole viewing experience. .

So the ratings are here. Season 1 of the Olympics TikTok is a success.