Now that the 2024 Paris Olympics have concluded, we can definitively say that the most surprising star of the show was the “Muffin Man.”
But just who is this “Muffin Man” that is taking the Olympic Village by storm?
Meet the Muffin Man
Do you know the Muffin Man? Of course, it’s Henrik Christiansen, a Norwegian swimmer who has become an unexpected sensation at the Olympics.
Calling chocolate muffins “the single greatest thing about the Olympic Village so far,” Christiansen’s muffin mania has captured the hearts of fans and fellow athletes alike.
How It All Began
It all started with a TikTok Christiansen posted, reviewing the food in the Olympic Village. In it, he called the “choccy muffins” insane and rated them 11/10.
They were the highest-rated meal, beating out pesto pasta, shrimp dumplings, and pork skewers.
The Birth of a Nickname
The jokes snowballed as Christiansen posted more content about his muffin obsession, documenting his descent into muffin-induced madness. All of his content quickly became muffin-related.
The pivotal moment came when he shared a TikTok of himself lip-syncing to a scene from _Shrek,_ where he asked a stuffed animal, “Do you know the Muffin Man?” The video was captioned, “I hereby declare myself as the Olympic Muffin Man!
Muffin Madness Takes Over
The TikToks kept coming. In one, he’s hoarding muffins in his room. In another, Christiansen is sharing a seemingly romantic moment with the pastry, captioning it “Bae is looking like a snack.”
“The Muffin Man” was even spotted strolling Parisian streets, choccy muffins in both hands.
Reaction from Fellow Athletes
His fellow Olympians quickly joined in the fun, posting their own muffin reviews and jokes.
One athlete quipped about trying to find the muffins for days, only to discover the “Norwegian Muffin Man” had taken them all. Another documented herself sneaking the muffin out of the country for her mother to try.
Fit For Royalty
The trend has launched Christiansen to such fame that he got to meet Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon. The Royal House of Norway posted a photo of the two sharing a chocolate muffin at the Olympic Village.
Thanks to this royal decree, it’s official – Christiansen is now and forever “The Muffin Man”.
Cookie Monster vs. Muffin Man
Christiansen isn’t alone in his love for the Olympic Village pastries – he’s got a new rival. Jon Joentvedt, one of Christiansen’s teammates, started posting about his love of cookies.
In his own post, Joentcedt filmed himself eating a white chocolate cookie in the Olympic Village, stating, “Muffins stand no chance against this.” It’s sparked a hilarious feud, with the two calling each other “traitors” and “mortal enemies”.
Where to Find These Muffins
The trend has sparked a wave of curiosity and creativity on TikTok, with several creators attempting to find these legendary muffins or create their own recipes.
For the official Olympic muffins, look no further than Sodexo Live, the company in charge of all the Olympic Village catering. Since the muffins went viral, they said they’ve been serving 2,000 each day.
Olympic Challenges
Of course, our favorite chaotic Olympian would be one of the unfortunate athletes who had to swim in the controversial Seine River. He joked about the ongoing drama, “If I don’t survive this, tell my fans I love them”.
The 27-year-old swimmer competed in the men’s 800m, 1500m, and freestyle events. While he didn’t win any medals, he has won a special place in all of our hearts.
Newfound Fame
Though this is Christiansen’s third time competing in the Olympics, this is the first time he’s found international fame. His TikToks have amassed millions of views, with several commenters saying they’re now rooting for Norway, simply because of his videos.
Since his Olympic virality, the Muffin Man has garnered almost half a million followers and over 25 million likes on TikTok.
Muffin Lasts Forever
The worst part of the Olympics for Christiansen? Saying goodbye to his beloved choccy muffins. Over the two and a half weeks he stayed at the Olympic Village, he said he only ate “seven or eight” muffins in total.
But his love for the muffin lives on, as he managed to smuggle one back to Norway. Though it may not have made it back in perfect condition, we suspect that he’ll be reunited with his beloved pastry soon. After all, what’s a muffin man without his muffins?
