Creative Lessons From Viral Olympic Moments

Welcome back to the latest issue of Funnel Vision, the weekly newsletter that puts performance creative & growth marketing in focus. Brought to you by the crew at Ready Set.

The Olympics may be over, but the viral moments they created continue to burn bright. What can they teach us about creativity?

Ready to get the vision? Let’s go!

Reading time: 5 minutes

Paris 2024 is officially a wrap.

16 days of jaw-dropping feats from some of the most impressive humans on the planet produced innumerable memorable moments.

Yet the ones that will forever remain in the collective consciousness are the ones that no one could have ever predicted.

Here’s what three of the most viral moments from the Paris Olympics can teach us about creativity.

1. Zig when others zag

Among the countless Games-inspired memes, the “Unfortunately, I wasn’t selected for the Olympics” videos were hard to miss.

Accompanied by a bass-boosted rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, aspiring athletes posted their spectacular slams with the sarcasm-laden admission they didn’t quite make the cut.

Then, US gymnast Suni Lee posted.

Having obviously made it to the Olympics, she had the clear opportunity to post her take on this trend—one that very few others were in a position to do.

Congrats, Suni on your gold and two bronze medals and for being the undisputed champion of this trend (and our hearts).

2. Double down on what's working

More than 10,000 athletes took part in the 2024 Olympics.

Many stand out for their sporting achievements. Some find fame from what happens between races.

Such is the case for the “Muffin Man” a.k.a. Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen.

His 11/10 review for an “insane” chocolate muffin was just one of his reviews of food in the village.

But it was the muffin that started the viral trend.

Other athletes soon began posting their own reviews on the muffin, adding fuel to the fire.

Henrik used the rest of his time in Paris to share more muffin content—19 videos at the last count—oh, and he swam in some races, too.

The lesson? You never know what will go viral. But once it’s out there, double down.

3. Embrace your creativity

The final short & sweet lesson is from the b-girl who needs no introduction.

Don’t be scared to try something new and different and creative. Word.

That’s a wrap!

That’s all for this installment of Funnel Vision. Thanks for reading!

Catch you next Friday 🫶

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