Chinese Gymnast Zhou Yaqin's Adorable Medal-Biting Reaction Goes Viral, Capturing Hearts Worldwide

The innocent reaction of Chinese athlete Zhou Yaqin has taken the internet by storm, where she is seen biting her Olympic medal after observing her fellow competitors doing the same.

Zhou Yaqin won the silver medal in the women’s gymnastics balance beam final, and as a first-time Olympian, she went viral for her adorable reaction to the Olympic ritual of biting the medal. After securing her silver medal on August 5, the 18-year-old's endearing response was captured on camera when Alice D’Amato, 21, and Manila Esposito, 17, took the traditional bites of their new medals.

Zhou appeared genuinely surprised by the custom, her eyes widening in shock as she witnessed the moment. She then attempted the tradition herself, though without actually biting her medal. The video of her observing the other champions biting their medals, followed by her own attempt, has gone viral all over the internet.

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Standing in second place on the podium with a bouquet in hand, Zhou noticed the other two athletes moving closer together on the top podium. She joined them in a relatable manner, and when they bit their medals, she hesitated at first, as if thinking, "What are you guys doing?" before going on to follow the long Olympic tradition.