Even as big tech works to limit the reach of competitive shooters and shooting enthusiasts on most platforms (i.e. Facebook, Instagram and YouTube), CNN, a typically anti-gun news outlet, surprisingly gushed in a recent article over the meteoric rise of South Korean Olympic shooter Kim Yeji, who has captured the hearts of social media users worldwide. Yeji, a 31-year-old sharpshooter, has become a sensation following her impressive performance at the Paris Olympics thus far and an earlier viral video from a competition in Azerbaijan.
“She’s impossibly cool, casually breaks world records and is the internet’s latest darling. And while her cap and futuristic glasses are merely functional accoutrements in the world of competitive shooting, they wouldn’t look out of place on a street style-inspired runway,” CNN reported, capturing the essence of Yeji’s unique appeal.
Yeji won silver in the 10-meter air pistol event on Sunday, trailing just behind her 19-year-old teammate Oh Ye Jin, who took home the gold. However, it was a video from May, showing Yeji in action in Azerbaijan, that catapulted her to internet stardom. The clip, which has amassed more than 7 million views on X, showcases her “steely determination and distinctive style.”
In the video, Yeji sports a backwards cap and shooting glasses, a combination that looks straight out of a sci-fi movie according to CNN. Her focused demeanor and precision were highlighted as she set a new world record, barely reacting to her achievement. The clip ends with her flipping up her glasses’ lens, staring directly into the camera and then glancing at a nearby screen with an impassive look.
Yeji’s recent performance in Paris also generated significant online buzz. Images of her competing in a black Fila jacket, Sauer shooting shoes and with a stuffed toy elephant hanging from her pocket were widely shared. One particularly popular photo shows Yeji leaning back with one hand on her hip and the other holding a pistol, her ponytail flicking out from her cap. This image, shared by the X account Women Posting W’s, was captioned, “the most aura I have ever seen in an image,” and has since garnered over 368,000 likes.
Even Elon Musk, the owner of X, chimed in, suggesting that Yeji “should be cast in an action movie.” Other posts celebrated her “main character energy” and affectionately referred to her as “mother,” a high compliment in internet culture.
Kim, a first-time Olympian, is set to compete in the qualifying round of the 25-meter pistol event on Friday. Her and Jin’s successes highlight South Korea’s perpetual strength in shooting, with the nation consistently winning medals in the sport at every Summer Olympic Games since 2000.
With seven of 15 competitive events in shooting completed thus far, the U.S. has yet to medal. Vincent Hancock, who is looking to win a fourth gold medal will get his chance Saturday should he qualify and compete in the Men’s skeet finals and possibly on Monday, should he make the mixed team skeet finals. Monday, Aug. 5 is the final day of shooting competition in the Olympics.
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