Ewa Swoboda may have come up short in the 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but she won when it comes to viral fame and social media stardom.
Swoboda went viral after saluting the camera and quickly switching her hands before the race. People on social media were initially puzzled by the gesture, but the Polish sprinter later explained that it was a sign of respect to the military.
Saluting with the right hand is traditionally done by the military, so she switched to her left hand to signify a simple hello to the audience.
After the video went viral, social media users scrambled to find Swoboda’s accounts, discovering her immense popularity in Poland, where she boasts over 615,000 followers on Instagram.
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Swoboda was also one of nine new Barbie doll models representing athletes ahead of the Olympic Games. The tattooed beauty joined the ranks of tennis player Venus Williams, football players Mary Fowler and Christine Sinclair, boxer Estelle Mossely, paratriathlete Susana Rodriguez, swimmer Federica Pellegrini, and gymnasts Rebeca Andrade and Alexa Moreno.
“I am overjoyed that Barbie appreciated my story and honored me alongside eight other amazing female athletes from around the world with the title of Barbie Role Model,” Swoboda wrote on social media. “I still can’t believe it! I used to play with dolls as a little girl, and now I have my own Barbie doll that looks like me—the only one of its kind in the world.”
She added, “I want my story to show that it’s always worth being yourself. You don’t have to meet anyone’s expectations or fit into an imposed framework to achieve your goals. Each of us has the right to express ourselves in our own way. Thank you, Barbie!”
The 26-year-old Swoboda holds the Polish national record in the 60m with a time of 6.98 seconds. She won silver at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in the event.
She also claimed gold in the 100m at the 2023 European Games and silver in the 100m at the 2016 World Junior Championships.
Ewa Swoboda’s rise to viral fame and her role as a Barbie model underscore her influence both on and off the track, inspiring fans worldwide with her athletic prowess and unique personality.
