me_irl

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me_irl (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 months ago by FlyingSquid to c/me_irl

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[–] Blue_Morpho 52 points 4 months ago (3 children)

It started in 1991. It started because a photographer thought it would make a good photo.

https://olympic-speakers.com/news/why-do-athletes-bite-medals#:~:text=The%20successful%20World%20Championship%20winning,doing%20the%20honours%20in%20Tokyo.

[–] FlyingSquid 20 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Huh. I totally don't remember seeing it before now, but I've certainly watched my share of Oylmpics since the 90s.

Memory is a weird thing.

[–] NegativeInf 10 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I always associated it with Underdog (the superhero) as he bites the coins he's tipped as a shoe shine to test their authenticity, quite often with disappointing results.

[–] FlyingSquid 7 points 4 months ago

I do too.

"Thank you, Shoe Shine Boy, you're humble and lovable."
"Bless you, sir."

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago

David Wallechinsky, President of the International Society of Olympic Historians told CNN in 2012, “It’s become an obsession with the photographers. I think they look at it as an iconic shot, as something that you can probably sell. I don’t think it’s something the athletes would probably do on their own.”

[–] BeMoreCareful 2 points 4 months ago

That's crazy, I thought it was from the meme.