This year, the Winter Olympics took a big presence on the internet. Following the end of the games, gold medal winners that represented America, were invited to host and be on many different shows. This includes alpine skiing, speedskating, freestyle skiing, figure skating, bobsled, and hockey.
One of the many reasons the games went viral this year was due to the skill and youth of the figure skaters. One of the most notable gold medalist skaters was Alysa Liu. She was widely known for her style and fashionable hair. Not only that, but she was very skillful in pushing her to win gold.
After the games, Liu was immediately given many opportunities for publicity. She was on the Tonight Show, Today Shows, Access Hollywood, and even featured on the cover of Teen Vogue. She also had a big media presence, gaining many followers after the game.
While Liu was given lots of opportunities, the entire gold-medal figure skating team also saw some. They were on the Start on Ice Tour, The Tonight Show, and Winter House (NBC Sports). This spread the popularity of figure skating even more.
Another group that grew very popular during and after the games was the men and women’s ice hockey teams. Both teams got gold medals and they were widespread after their win. However after their win, the teams faced some controversy when denying going to the White House after being invited.
Both of the teams went on a joint “Victory Tour” through many different shows. This includes Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, and the Today Show. Specific people such as the team captains and the Hughes brothers made more appearances than others, but their television tour grew their platform majorly.
Overall, the Winter Olympics this year was one of the most successful the U.S. has seen in years. It brought home 12 gold medals, 12 silver, and 9 bronze medals. These games were historic, and many were excited to see the dominance in the games.
