These were the most viral moments in SEA from the Paris 2024 Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics provided a remarkable platform for Southeast Asian countries to showcase their athletes' talents and stir a collective sense of national pride. It has also birthed numerous viral moments including Algeria's Imane Khelif's Olympic boxing gold medal, making her the first Algerian, Arab and African woman to win the title and Chinese gymnast Zhou Yaqin innocently imitating her fellow medal winners in biting their Olympic medal. 

Interestingly, different regions and countries saw varied social media coverage and public engagement on the viral moments that took place during the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

For starters, across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, the 2024 Paris Olympics emerged as a significant event that sparked deep national pride, emotional investment, and widespread public engagement, according to media intelligence firm DATAXET.

Don't miss: Dating apps see Olympic level engagement in Paris during games 

In each country, discussions were driven by the achievements of key athletes, reflecting a shared regional focus on Olympic success. Words associated with medals—gold, silver, and bronze—dominated the discourse, underscoring the collective aspiration for athletic excellence, said DATAXET.

In addition, social media platforms played a crucial role in shaping and amplifying these discussions, with netizens rallying behind their national athletes, celebrating their victories, and expressing support even in the face of challenges.

Another common thread was the strong sentiment of national pride and the recognition of athletes' hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

Across the region, the public discourse highlighted a deep emotional connection to the athletes, with many viewing their achievements as symbols of national identity and pride, said DATAXET. This sentiment was not only directed at the athletes themselves but also extended to the broader cultural and social implications of their successes, it added. 

Despite these commonalities, each country displayed unique characteristics in its engagement with the Olympics and presented various viral moments for the country. 

Indonesia 

The 2024 Paris Olympics served as a powerful platform for Indonesia to showcase its athletic talent, cultural heritage, and national pride. The viral moments, as captured in DATAXET's data, highlight the deep emotional and cultural connections that the Indonesian public has with sports.

The top three viral moments in Indonesia, according to DATAXET include: 

1. Prabowo Subianto’s entrance at the Olympic Opening Ceremony

Indonesia’s president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, made a significant impact with his appearance at the opening ceremony, drawing 206,000 engagements on social media. His presence, marked by enthusiastic support for the Indonesian athletes, became a symbol of national pride and was widely celebrated by netizens.

2. Celine Dion’s showstopper performance

Celine Dion’s performance at the opening ceremony captivated Indonesian audiences, particularly notable figures such as Erick Thohir. The performance led to a substantial social media buzz, with 148,000 engagements, highlighting the crossover appeal of international cultural icons in Indonesian discussions.

3. Rizki Juniansyah’s emotional pre-competition ritual and gold medal victory

Rizki Juniansyah’s heartfelt pre-competition ritual of kissing and washing his mother’s feet before winning a gold medal in the men’s 73kg weightlifting category resonated deeply with the Indonesian public. This moment garnered 199,000 engagements, underscoring the emotional weight and familial values associated with his achievement.

According to DATAXET, the word cloud analysis confirms the prominence of key athletes and the positive sentiment surrounding their achievements. Of the athletes Rizki emerged as a central figure in Indonesia's Olympic story, followed by Vedrriq Leonardo and Gregoria Mariska Tunjung. 

The word cloud also reveals an overwhelmingly positive sentiment associated with Indonesia's Olympic participation, including words such as 'berhasil' (succeeded), 'emas' (gold), 'sukses' (success) and 'bangga' (proud). The absence of negative or controversial terms indicates that the overall public discourse was focused on celebrating achievements and expressing national pride.

Sponsors played a significant role in enhancing the Olympic experience, further intertwining national pride with brand visibility. Of the sponsors, Samsung, led the sponsorship buzz, followed by Aice and Li-Ning. 

Malaysia 

In Malaysia, the viral moments identified highlight the deep connection between Malaysians and their athletes, reflecting themes of resilience, hope, and unity. 

The top three viral moments in Malaysia according to DATAXET include: 

1.  Badminton keeping Malaysia's dreams alive

Badminton, a sport deeply rooted in Malaysian national pride, generated a total engagement of 1,088,532, underscoring its importance in the country’s Olympic conversations. The discussions around these athletes reflected a blend of excitement, hope, and deep emotional connection.

Of the badminton sporting event, athletes Lee Zii Jia, M. Thinaah and Pearly Tan were key. 

According to DATAXET, Lee's journey to the final and his bronze medal victory in badminton were pivotal moments for Malaysian sports fans. The sharp increase in social media engagement on 5 August coincided with his win, which sparked widespread discussions, shares, and comments across platforms.

Despite some disappointment that he did not secure gold, the sentiment was overwhelmingly positive, with netizens expressing pride in his growth and resilience. Many viewed Lee as the torchbearer of Malaysian badminton, continuing the legacy of the legendary Lee Chong Wei. His total engagement reached 538,430, reflecting his significance in the national Olympic narrative.

Meanwhile, dynamic badminton duo Thinaah & Pearly captured the nation’s attention with their intense performance, generating 550,102 total engagements, added DATAXET.

Their near-miss for a bronze medal was an emotional rollercoaster for fans, who praised their tenacity and fighting spirit. The duo's ability to inspire, even without winning a medal, resonated strongly with the public, possibly driving more engagement than Lee's performance. Fans celebrated their dedication and expressed confidence in their potential for future successes, marking them as key figures in Malaysia's Olympic journey.

2. Cycling showing perseverance

The cycling events, particularly the stories of Shah Firdaus and Azizulhasni Awang, generated a total engagement of 815,607, highlighting themes of perseverance, resilience, and national pride, even in the face of adversity.

The controversy surrounding Shah’s race, where he was struck by competitor Shinji, ignited a wave of anger and support online. Many Malaysians felt the incident unfairly cost Shah the gold medal, leading to Shinji issuing an apology. Despite the controversy, Shah’s determination and resilience were widely admired, with total engagement reaching 341,746. Netizens viewed him as the next great hope in Malaysian cycling, particularly following the disqualification of Azizulhasni Awang.

On the other hand, Azizulhasni’s disqualification, due to a technical violation in his final Olympic appearance, was a significant emotional blow for the nation. His situation generated 473,861 engagements, as Malaysians expressed deep empathy and respect for his years of perseverance.

The disqualification, especially after overcoming significant health challenges, was a heartbreaking end to his Olympic career. Despite the disappointment, his dedication and sportsmanship earned him unwavering support, reminding everyone of the emotional highs and lows of representing a nation on the world stage.

3. Nur Dhabitah Sabri's journey in diving 

Dhabitah emerged as a symbol of hope and potential in Malaysian diving. Her candid admission of nearly giving up resonated deeply with fans, driving significant engagement with a total of 217,350. Netizens rallied around her with sympathy and encouragement, seeing a bright future for her in the sport.

However, her journey was not without its challenges, as some criticized her swimsuit and entry technique, sparking further discussions. Despite these controversies, the overall sentiment remained supportive, with many expressing optimism for her future achievements.

In Malaysia, the world cloud suggests Malaysia's high hopes for gold through the prominence of hashtags such as #goforgold and '#kitasemuaemas' ("we are all gold"). There was also widespread use of #sokongmalaysia (Support Malaysia), as well as athlete mentions of Lee and global figures such as Simone Biles. 

It is also worth noting that the word cloud featured Malay and Chinese characters, reflecting Malaysia's multicultural society. This indicates that discussions spanned across different language communities within the country, said DATAXET. 

Singapore 

In the little red dot, the 2024 Paris Olympics sparked discussions on a variety of topics, from athlete achievements to cultural controversies. The games generated significant online discussion in Singapore, with a total of 624.6k engagements across various social media platforms, according to DATAXET. 

The public’s reaction was sparked by a range of events, from humorous mishaps to record-breaking performances. These discussions reveal the depth of national pride and the diverse range of topics that captivated the Singaporean audience.

The top three viral moments in Singapore according to DATAXET include:  

1. The last supper Olympic opening row 

The Olympic opening ceremony's skit resembling the Last Supper became a catalyst for significant conversation about religion, art, and social values in Singapore. According to DATAXET, the topic received up to 70.2k social engagements, with discussions largely taking place on forum (45.4%) and Reddit (35.5%), followed by Facebook (11.6%). 

The conversations revealed a divided public, with some netizens finding the parody offensive to Christians, while others defending it as a form of artistic expression. This controversy highlights the sensitive nature of religious representations in public events and the diverse range of opinions within the Singaporean digital community, said DATAXET.

2. Max Maeder, the kitefoiling hero

Max Maeder, Singapore’s kitefoiling star, garnered massive support from the public as he competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, said DATAXET. Engagement on posts related to his event spiked on 9 August, when he secured a bronze medal for Singapore, resulting in 56.5k engagements.

While Singaporeans had hoped for a gold medal, the overall sentiment was positive, with many congratulating Maeder for his achievement. The co-occurrence of "Kitefoiling" with "Max Maeder" in discussions indicates that his success has increased the visibility of the sport in Singapore, potentially inspiring greater interest and participation in kitefoiling.

3. Singaporeans react to Pan Zhanle's record

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle’s world record in the 100m freestyle sparked significant discussions on Singapore’s forums, generating 42.1k engagements. Despite lingering suspicions due to a previous doping scandal, many online users defended his latest achievement, and others criticised the other athletes who disrespected Zhanle and his coaches, added DATAXET. 

This incident reflects the complexity of public opinion when it comes to sportsmanship and fairness in competitive sports, explained DATAXET, adding that the lingering suspicions and divided reactions underscore the challenges that athletes face in overcoming past controversies and earning public trust. 

Online discussions in Singapore revealed the prominence of hashtags such as #paris2024, #parisolympics, #olympics2024, #singapore, and #teamsingapore. 

Not surprisingly, Maeder's name was also prominently featured in the word cloud, reflecting his significance in the Singaporean Olympic narrative. Loh Kean Yew, Singapore’s badminton player, was also mentioned, indicating his importance in the public discourse.

These mentions highlight the athletes who captured the nation’s attention during the event, explained DATAXET. 

In addition, words such as 'medal,' 'bronze,' 'the best,' and 'congratulation' indicate a celebratory and supportive atmosphere within Singaporean social media.

Finally, the inclusion of media outlets such as The Straits Times and other news sources in the word cloud highlights the role of traditional media in shaping and amplifying Olympic-related discussions, added DATAXET. This suggests that both social and traditional media were integral in driving public engagement during the event.

Philippines

According to DATAXET, the 2024 Paris Olympics served as a powerful moment of national pride and emotional investment for Filipinos. It revealed that there is a deep connection between Filipinos and their athletes, reflecting themes of resilience, perseverance, and national pride. 

In fact, the 2024 Paris Olympics generated significant interest and online engagement among Filipinos, with a total of three million engagements and 4,565 mentions across various social media platforms. The public’s reaction was driven by the successes of Filipino athletes, as well as their emotional journeys and the pride of representing the nation on a global stage. This engagement underscores the deep national pride and emotional investment that Filipinos had in their athletes' performances.

The top three viral moments in Philippines according to DATAXET include:  

1. Carlos Yulo's double gold 

Carlos Yulo became a viral sensation after winning two gold medals in the men’s vault and floor exercise at the Paris Olympics, said DATAXET. His achievements sparked widespread digital engagement, with 1.2 million social interactions, reflecting profound national pride and communal joy. Netizens celebrated his success as a landmark moment in Philippine sports, recognizing Yulo’s hard work, talent, and dedication as key factors in his historic accomplishment.

On top of that, the continued interest in Yulo’s achievements days after his performances highlights the lasting emotional impact of his victories. The public’s reaction was marked by a deep sense of pride, with many expressing their joy at hearing the national anthem played on the Olympic stage.

Yulo’s status as the Philippines’ first-ever double Olympic gold medalist further solidified his place as a national hero. 

2. EJ Obiena's Olympic performance

EJ Obiena’s fourth-place finish in the men’s pole vault finals on 6 August sparked significant engagement, with 279.9k social interactions.

Despite not securing a medal, netizens showed strong support for Obiena, expressing pride in his efforts and optimism for his future in the sport. Many compared his journey to that of other Filipino athletes who initially missed out on medals but later achieved great success, such as Hidilyn Diaz. 

Obiena’s announcement of plans to promote pole vaulting in the Philippines by organising a competition resonated with the public too, who viewed his commitment to the sport as a positive step forward, added DATAXET.

While some expressed scepticism about his spinal issues, the overall sentiment remained supportive, with many praising Obiena as a "real Filipino warrior" for competing under challenging circumstances

3. Aira Villegas wins bronze 

Aira Villegas’ impressive performance in the women’s 50kg boxing event on 7 August generated a surge in social engagement, reaching 226.6k interactions, explained DATAXET.

The public’s reaction was marked by immense pride and heartfelt gratitude for Villegas’ dedication and hard work. Netizens celebrated her bronze medal as a significant achievement, with many expressing a deep emotional connection to her success.

Furthermore, the flood of positive comments reflected the national pride that Filipinos felt in Villegas’ accomplishment, said DATAXET, adding that her victory was seen as a testament to her perseverance and determination, inspiring continued support for Filipino athletes in future competitions.

As seen from the country's word cloud, hashtags such as #paris2024, #olympics, and #olimpiadeparis were prominently used during the global event. Likewise, Yulo's name is also prominently featured following his double gold medal win. 

Similar to other countries in the Southeast Asia region, words such as 'gold', "silver', 'bronze', and 'medal' highlights an emphasis on Olympic success. 

What's fascinating about the online discussions in Philippines, is that the word cloud includes mentions of neighbouring countries Indonesia and Malaysia too, it said. This suggests that Filipinos were not only engaged in their own athletes' performances but also followed the achievements of athletes from neighbouring countries. 

Related articles:   
2024 Paris Olympics committee apologises for controversial 'The Last Supper' sketch
Study: 56% of Singaporeans will turn to television to watch the Paris 2024 Olympics
Study: Malaysia among the top nations enthusiastic for 2024 Olympics