The Brazilian unintentionally recreated an iconic meme, which has exploded the internet. 

Bruno Fratus became the oldest swimmer to win a medal at the Olympic Games at the age of 32. The Brazilian athlete claimed a bronze medal in the 50m men’s freestyle race. While it was a big breakthrough for the athlete and his country, the 32-year-old fortuitously imitated an iconic meme during medal giving ceremony. 

Last year, a Russian artist created a sketch named, “Never give up!” which shows a man winning a bronze medal and is really, really having fun after winning. In a series of pictures, we can see the athlete commemorating his success, biting his medal, kissing the woman presenting prizes, sticking out his middle fingers to the crowd and opening a bottle of champagne, and spraying it all over the crowd. 

One person tweeted: “Is this a coincidence or did he intentionally immitate the meme? Either way the man is based and legendary for that.”

Another wrote: “what! the memes are coming to life!!”

While some people don’t believe a silver or bronze medal justifies glorification, a majority thinks that getting to that level requires intense hard work and dedication, and sacrifice, and to celebrate that is the best thing an athlete could do.

So, not only is Fratus an Olympic-winning swimmer, he’s now also unintentionally dominating memes on Twitter! What a week.