I’ve always wondered how athletes muster up the energy to smile through the interviews after a race.
Usain Bolt managed to do it in middle of one.
The 29-year-old fastest man in the world took home his first Rio gold on Sunday for the 100-meter dash — marking his third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the men’s 100-meter race.
The win was expected, but the grin Bolt flashed the cameras while running in the semi-final took the internet world by surprise.
And obviously, they turned it into a meme.
Everybody else is sprinting for their lives and Usain Bolt is smiling for his 7th grade class photo. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/NTqyLCY4vN
— Craig Silverman (@CraigSilverman) August 15, 2016
*Record scratch*
*Freeze frame*
Yup, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I ended up in this situation. pic.twitter.com/TXU6T6iM3B
— ben/lil boat fanboy (@a7xweeman) August 15, 2016
when you ask if I want to leave the party now, or if it’s OK if we talk to a few more people pic.twitter.com/4KYuiUmjWv
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) August 15, 2016
when your mom keeps bugging you about grandkids and you’re like what was that mom I couldn’t hear you over the crowd pic.twitter.com/TKzOfp9h58
— Erin Burr, sir (@erinscafe) August 15, 2016
— Luke Cripwalker (@sporker_) August 15, 2016
The only Usain Bolt. pic.twitter.com/qMOEw8jdmO
— P e n. (@_xpxnx_) August 15, 2016
When you’ve tricked the world into thinking Justin Gatlin has a chance: pic.twitter.com/ASXzCLk4lX
— Jesse Washington (@jessewashington) August 15, 2016
Bolt stops, takes a selfie, then continues to win the race. pic.twitter.com/tvr7FxEcQg
— Kevin McSorley (@Sloopjb619) August 15, 2016
Bolt has two more chances to bring home additional gold medals, and make more internet history, later this week.
Image via: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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