The internet has crowned Michael Phelps as King of the Olympic Memes, and the former title-holder McKayla Maroney couldnt be happier.
If you remember anything about McKayla Maroney, hopefully its her near-perfect vault at the 2012 London Olympics that helped Team USA clinch the gold for the Gymnastics team finals.Or maybe you remember her name from the many post-Olympic appearances the Fierce Five made after returning home from London, which included a visit to the White House.
But most likely, you remember her infamous photothat went viral during the 2012 games.
After falling during her dismount, the worlds greatest vaulter at the time settled for the silver medal for the Individual Vault, an event she should have easily won gold in. Maroney shocked the world, and herself, when she fell on a vault she had completed perfectly every time she attempted it in the few months prior. During the medal ceremony, Maroney let her cool slip for a single second, making a face that proved she was less than thrilled about placing second and watching someone else be awarded what many considered her gold medal.
Thus the McKayla Maroney not impressed meme was born.
The smirking picture of Maroney sparked aTumblr page solely dedicated to photos of Maroney looking not impressed at various moments when one would undoubtedly, well, be impressed.
Maroney isnt competing at this years games due to a range of injuries, but it seems the 20-year-old has struck gold. Much to her delight, she has been dethroned as the meme champion of the Olympics, allowing the gold-medal-winning Michael Phelps to take her place.
Somebody tweeted like, McKayla looks like somebody took your spot ... and I looked at his pictures and was like, YES! Go Michael, take it away please! Maroney told TMZ about Phelps now-iconic scowl.
While gearing up for a swimming semi-final race, the champion swimmer encountered his arch-nemesis, South Africas Chad le Clos, who beat him at the 2012 games by a mere five-hundredths of a second. Cameras caught Phelps glowering at le Clos with a look we wouldnt wish on our worst enemy, and almost instantaneously, Maroneys reign as Queen of the Memes was over.
The internet did what it always does when even a small umbrella worth of shade is thrown and quickly produced a stream of hilarious memes featuring Phelpsglare.
I now see why people thought (the memes were) so funny, added Maroney.
We imagine its much easier to laugh when the whole world tweets about someone elses face.
Amid all the triumph of the Olympics, all the joys and wonders forged in the sandy fires of Rio, there is, of course, a sense of loss. Dreams quickly rot into disappointment. Favorites fall, nations stumble. And, of course, torches are passedhow fitting for the Olympicsfrom one generation to the next. (These torches are not always passed willingly, of course. Sometimes they must be yanked out of muscled hands.) Just such an event happened last night. Thoughand this is rarethis was an inter-sport transfer. From gymnastics to swimming. From one gold medalist to another.
Travel with me, if you will, back to late early August of 2012. President Obama was involved in a bitter presidential race with handsome horseman Mitt Romney. The Dark Knight Rises was No. 1 at the box office, while Step Up Revolution performed decently in sixth place. We were all four years youngermaybe we had more hair, maybe the baby hadnt been born yet, the dog was still alive, we lived in Seattle then. Lives were different, is what Im saying. So different, in fact, that the Olympics were not being held in Rio de Janeiro at all. No, they were in London. The Foggy Bottom! Or whatever London is called.
The point is, the London Olympics were happening and the American womens-gymnastics team won gold in the team event. Then, they competed in the individual events, also performing well. A young American gymnast, all of 16 years old then, named McKayla Maroney won silver in the vault event, which she was favored to win. Her somewhat peeved reaction during the medal ceremony, an endearing and slightly wicked little sideways frown, became a viral sensation: McKayla Maroney Is Not Impressed. This wasnt just a viral sensation, though. It was the viral sensation of the 2012 Olympic games.
The planet has twirled swiftly around the sun four times since then. The baby came, the dog went, we moved to St. Louis. Life happened. And yet still, McKaylas not impressed face remained the official meme of the Olympics. Because nothing had come along to replace it. Until last night, August 8.
In the lead-up to a swimming semi-final race, gold-plated American swimmer Michael Phelpsan athlete so decorated that when the medals have their own Olympics, they win Michael Phelpseswas trying to get his head into the swim zone while rival swimmer, South African speedboat Chad le Clos, preened and stretched right in front of him. Phelps, hood up and face twisted into an angry knot, was psyching himself up for the race so intensely that an NBC camera couldnt help but linger on his scowl, while commentators Dan Hicks and Rowdy Gainesstars of the Olympics greatest love storyriffed about Phelpss funny face. It was a lighthearted, fun moment, and Twitter went nuts for it. A meme bloomed into being, unstoppable and instantly ubiquitous.
And thus, like some powerful spell being broken, McKayla Maroney was free. She is no longer meme queen of the Olympics. The torch, as all torches must someday be, has been passed. And that is, in a way, a kind of loss. Though, Maroney seems relieved. TMZ did a little FaceTime interview with Maroney, now 20, today, and she told them, I looked at his pictures and was like, YES! Go, Michael, take it away, please! So shes glad for it. I suppose we cant blame her.
Now the great Olympic wheel turns on. Were only four days into these Rio games, meaning a whole new meme could pop up and unsettle Mr. Phelpss short time on the throne. (Hes not very used to that happening.) Maybe gymnast Laurie Hernandez will make some silly face, or swimmer Ryan Lochte will moon the pool or something. Who knows! Anything could happen, which is the tense magic of these games. But right now, Michael Phelps is Olympic-meme champion. McKayla Maroneys name will forever hang from the rafters, but she is no longer number one in the world. That era has ended. Phelps reigns, and Maroney starts out on a music career. All part of the churn and drama of this great and epic dance we call sport.
XVenus Williams, Tennis
AGE: 35. HOMETOWN: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012. FAVORITE OLYMPICS MOMENT: Yikesall, even the ones I watched as a child. TRAINING SECRET: Mental training and visualization. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL? No, thank G*d. FAVORITE FAN: Serena. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN/WARM UP TO: All Mixed Up, by 311. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Doughnuts. TOUGHEST LOSS: All of them, but losses make you better! MOST THRILLING WIN: Any Olympic doubles with my sis!
Photograph by Sam Jones. Gabby Douglas, Gymnastics
AGE: 20. HOMETOWN: Virginia Beach, Virginia. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Being confident. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL? Praying, reading Scripture. FAVORITE FAN: John (my brother). TOUGHEST LOSS: 2012 Visa Championships. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2012 American Cup.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Jenny Arthur, Weight Lifting
AGE: 22. HOMETOWN: Gainesville, Georgia. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Yes. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL? Prayer. FAVORITE FANS: My parents and siblings. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: G*d in Me, by Mary Mary. MOST THRILLING WIN: Junior Worlds in 2013, silver medal.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Natalie Coughlin, Swimming
AGE: 33. HOMETOWN: Vallejo, California. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2004, 2008,2012. TRAINING SECRETS: Recovery, great diet. PRE-COMPETITIONRITUAL: Coffee and yoga/Pilates. FAVORITE FAN: My husband. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Shoop, by Salt-N-Pepa. FAVORITETRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Bratwurst with the fixings. FAVORITESPORTS MOVIE: The Replacements. TOUGHEST LOSS: Not sure. MOSTTHRILLING WIN: Defending gold at Beijing.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Carlin Isles and Madison Hughes, Rugby
AGE: 26 & 23. HOMETOWN: Isles: Massillon, Ohio. Hughes: Lancaster, Massachusetts, and London. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Isles: Yes. Hughes: Yes. TRAINING SECRET: Isles: Seeing past what the eye can see. FAVORITE FAN: Hughes: Mom.FAVORITE BOOSTER: Isles: The Lord, Jesus Christ. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Isles:Tell Me, by Bobby Valentino. Hughes: Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen. TOUGHEST LOSS: Isles: All of them. Hughes: Losing to Canada in Glasgow last year. MOST THRILLING WIN: Isles: All of them. Hughes: Olympic qualifier.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Ryan Lochte, Swimming
AGE: 31. HOMETOWN: Daytona Beach, Florida. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2004, 2008, 2012. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO:The Sky Is the Limit, by Lil Wayne. TOUGHEST LOSS: All of them. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2008, winning the 200-meter backstroke.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Connor Fields, Cycling BMX
AGE:23. HOMETOWN: Las Vegas. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Lift heavy, pedal fast. FAVORITE FAN: Mom and Dad. FAVORITE ALBUM TO TRAIN TO: Watch the Throne, by Jay Z and Kanye West. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Doughnuts. FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: Coach Carter. TOUGHEST LOSS: The Olympics in London. MOST THRILLING WIN: Olympic trials in 2012.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Jake Dalton and John Orozco, Gymnastics
AGE: 24 & 23. HOMETOWN: Dalton: Sparks, Nevada. Orozco: Bronx, New York. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Dalton: 2012. Orozco: 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Dalton: Consistency. Orozco: Pizzaonly after practice. GOOD-LUCK CHARM: Dalton: My necklace, Shields of Strength. Orozco: White Rosary. FAVORITE FANS: Dalton: Family, wife. Orozco: My parents. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Dalton: Headstrong, by Trapt. Orozco: The Fighter, by Gym Class Heroes. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Dalton: Doughnuts. TOUGHEST LOSS: Dalton: Falling in 2009 Worlds. Orozco: Olympic-teamfinals in 2012. MOST THRILLING WIN: Dalton: Bronzes at team Worlds in 2011 and 2014. Orozco: 2012 National Championships.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Sam Mikulak, Gymnastics
AGE: 23. HOMETOWN: Newport Beach, California. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2012. TRAINING SECRET: MatBros and mindfulness. FAVORITE FANS: Mom, Dad, and Team Sam. TOUGHEST LOSS: 2012 Olympic-team finals. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2014 N.C.A.A. team championships.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Simone Biles, Gymnastics
AGE: 19. HOMETOWN: Spring, Texas. FIRST OLYMPICS? Yes. TRAINING SECRET: No secrethave fun. GOOD-LUCK CHARM: Saint Sebastian. FAVORITE SINGER TO TRAIN TO: Justin Bieber. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Pizza. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2013 World Championships.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Mariel Zagunis, FENCING
AGE: 31. HOMETOWN: Beaverton, Oregon. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2004, 2008, 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Perseverance and resilience. EARLIEST OLYMPICS MEMORY: Learning about my parents Olympic experiences[rowing, 1976]. MOST THRILLING WIN: Repeating gold in Beijing.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Daryl Homer, FENCING
AGE: 25. HOMETOWN: Bronx, New York. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2012. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL: Long showers. FAVORITE FAN: My mom. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Fruit snacks. TOUGHEST LOSS: Last Olympics loss. MOST THRILLING WIN: Semi-final, 2015 World Championships.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Allyson Felix, TRACK AND FIELD
AGE: 30. HOMETOWN: Los Angeles. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 2004, 2008, 2012. GOOD-LUCK CHARM: Diamond necklace. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Diva, by Beyonc. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Ice cream. FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: Cool Runnings. TOUGHEST LOSS: 2008 BeijingOlympics 200 meters. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2012 London Olympics 200meters.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Jordan Burroughs and Andy Bisek, WRESTLING
AGE: 27 & 29. HOMETOWN: Burroughs: Sicklerville, New Jersey. Bisek: Chaska, Minnesota. CURRENT RESIDENCE: Bisek: Colorado Springs, Colorado. FIRST OLYMPICS? Bisek: Yes. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Burroughs: 2012. PRE-COMPETITION RITUAL: Burroughs: Prayer. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Burroughs: Doughnuts. FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: Burroughs: The Sandlot. Bisek: Secretariat.
Photograph by Sam Jones. Dawn Harper-Nelson, Track And Field
AGE: 32. HOMETOWN: East St. Louis, Illinois. TRAINING SECRET: Always get to practice early. GOOD-LUCK CHARM: Cross earrings and necklace. FAVORITE FAN:Mom. FAVORITE SONG TO TRAIN TO: Headlines, by Drake. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Strawberry ice cream. FAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: Any Given Sunday. TOUGHEST LOSS: 2009 and 2015 World Championships. MOST THRILLING WIN: 2008 Olympics gold medal.
Photograph by Sam Jones. John Mann and Tony Azevedo, WATER POLO
AGE: 30 & 34. HOMETOWN: Mann: Newport Beach, California. Azevedo: Long Beach, California. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: Mann: 2012. Azevedo: 2000,2004, 2008, 2012. TRAINING SECRET: Mann: Hard work all day every day. Azevedo: Eat right. FAVORITE GROUP TO TRAIN TO: Azevedo: Man. FAVORITE FAN: Mann: Mysister. PRE-COMPETITIONRITUAL: Azevedo: Espresso and a newspaper. FAVORITE TRAINING-DIET CHEAT FOOD: Mann: Burger. Azevedo: Red-velvet cupcake. TOUGHEST LOSS: Mann: Olympic quarterfinals. Azevedo: Olympics gold-medal game, 2008. MOST THRILLING WIN: Mann: Too many!!! 2016gold! Azevedo: Semis versus Serbia, 2008.
McKayla Maroney Last Laugh After Leaked Selfies McKayla Maroney Credit: Courtesy of McKayla Maroney/Instagram
Still not impressed. Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney denies that she got lip injections. The Olympic gold medalist, whose unimpressed face went viral four years ago at the London Olympics, told Seventeen.comthat despite showcasing a plumper pout on Instagram, she hasnt enhanced her lips.
Plastic Surgery Nightmares
I literally have not done anything to my face, Maroney, 20, told the mag when asked about the allegations. Growing up in the social media world, it"s tough. Your face changes, you get older, your face fills out, and you fall into liking makeup and different stuff like that. Makeup and a camera can really make you look like a different person. (The athlete-turned-singer/actress told Seventeen that lipliner and highlighter are to credit for her lush lips.)
The gymnast, whose Instagram account is filled with sexy selfies nowadays, also addressed the rumors via Instagram on Monday, July 11.
Olympic Athletes: Where Are They Now?
Me thinking about how to get my face to look like Ive never done anything to my face when Ive never done anything to my face, she captioned a photo of herself in deep concentration.
Aside from defending her au natural pout, Maroney has been busy working on her fledgling singing career.
Golfer Stacy Lewis Calls Sports Return to Olympics an Honor Body Parts Wash Ashore at Rio Olympics Volleyball Site Why Did Stephen Curry Withdraw From the Olympics 2016 Roster?
Ive loved writing songs since I was really young, she told the mag. "I thought I was going to be like Sia and sell my songs to people but I want to sing them. My biggest inspiration is Drake. I love the way that he tells stories. It has a little bit of a Calypso jam vibe. He"s political and real and always lyrically-driven in all the melodies. If there"s one person I want to sound like, it"s him.
Maroney plans on releasing a single soon and will be cheering on her former teammates Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Celebrity Selfies
The Rio Olympics begin August 5 and will be streamed live on NBCOlympics.com and on the NBC Sports app. The Rio Paralympics begin September 7 and will be streamed live on TeamUSA.org.
Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics, and more delivered straight to your inbox!
Still not impressed. Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney denies that she got lip injections. The Olympic gold medalist, whose unimpressed face went viral four years ago at the London Olympics, told Seventeen.comthat despite showcasing a plumper pout on Instagram, she hasnt enhanced her lips.
Plastic Surgery Nightmares
I literally have not done anything to my face, Maroney, 20, told the mag when asked about the allegations. Growing up in the social media world, it"s tough. Your face changes, you get older, your face fills out, and you fall into liking makeup and different stuff like that. Makeup and a camera can really make you look like a different person. (The athlete-turned-singer/actress told Seventeen that lipliner and highlighter are to credit for her lush lips.)
The gymnast, whose Instagram account is filled with sexy selfies nowadays, also addressed the rumors via Instagram on Monday, July 11.
Olympic Athletes: Where Are They Now?
Me thinking about how to get my face to look like Ive never done anything to my face when Ive never done anything to my face, she captioned a photo of herself in deep concentration.
Aside from defending her au natural pout, Maroney has been busy working on her fledgling singing career.
Golfer Stacy Lewis Calls Sports Return to Olympics an Honor Body Parts Wash Ashore at Rio Olympics Volleyball Site Why Did Stephen Curry Withdraw From the Olympics 2016 Roster?
Ive loved writing songs since I was really young, she told the mag. "I thought I was going to be like Sia and sell my songs to people but I want to sing them. My biggest inspiration is Drake. I love the way that he tells stories. It has a little bit of a Calypso jam vibe. He"s political and real and always lyrically-driven in all the melodies. If there"s one person I want to sound like, it"s him.
Maroney plans on releasing a single soon and will be cheering on her former teammates Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Celebrity Selfies
The Rio Olympics begin August 5 and will be streamed live on NBCOlympics.com and on the NBC Sports app. The Rio Paralympics begin September 7 and will be streamed live on TeamUSA.org.
Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics, and more delivered straight to your inbox!
McKayla Maroney USA Team Final Vault 2012 London Olympic Games McKayla Maroney Credit: Courtesy of McKayla Maroney/Instagram
Still not impressed. Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney denies that she got lip injections. The Olympic gold medalist, whose unimpressed face went viral four years ago at the London Olympics, told Seventeen.comthat despite showcasing a plumper pout on Instagram, she hasnt enhanced her lips.
Plastic Surgery Nightmares
I literally have not done anything to my face, Maroney, 20, told the mag when asked about the allegations. Growing up in the social media world, it"s tough. Your face changes, you get older, your face fills out, and you fall into liking makeup and different stuff like that. Makeup and a camera can really make you look like a different person. (The athlete-turned-singer/actress told Seventeen that lipliner and highlighter are to credit for her lush lips.)
The gymnast, whose Instagram account is filled with sexy selfies nowadays, also addressed the rumors via Instagram on Monday, July 11.
Olympic Athletes: Where Are They Now?
Me thinking about how to get my face to look like Ive never done anything to my face when Ive never done anything to my face, she captioned a photo of herself in deep concentration.
Aside from defending her au natural pout, Maroney has been busy working on her fledgling singing career.
Golfer Stacy Lewis Calls Sports Return to Olympics an Honor Body Parts Wash Ashore at Rio Olympics Volleyball Site Why Did Stephen Curry Withdraw From the Olympics 2016 Roster?
Ive loved writing songs since I was really young, she told the mag. "I thought I was going to be like Sia and sell my songs to people but I want to sing them. My biggest inspiration is Drake. I love the way that he tells stories. It has a little bit of a Calypso jam vibe. He"s political and real and always lyrically-driven in all the melodies. If there"s one person I want to sound like, it"s him.
Maroney plans on releasing a single soon and will be cheering on her former teammates Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Celebrity Selfies
The Rio Olympics begin August 5 and will be streamed live on NBCOlympics.com and on the NBC Sports app. The Rio Paralympics begin September 7 and will be streamed live on TeamUSA.org.
Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics, and more delivered straight to your inbox!
