TikTok declarations of love for the "choccy muffs" served up in the Olympic village have made Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen an overnight internet sensation
What exactly goes down within an Olympic village? For decades, the on-site residential complex has been a point of fascination, intrigue, and rumoured inter-athlete debauchery. But at this year's Games in Paris, with TikTok trends being the modus operandi of the majority 20-something competitors, the world has had a glimpse into the village – and its cardboard beds – like never before.
As it turns out, what actually has athletes' hearts aflutter in the village (aside from US rugby player Ilona Maher's Love Island-esque TikTok antics) is the dining hall. More specifically, according to Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen, it's the baked goods.
27-year-old Christiansen, who placed sixth in the 800m freestyle earlier this week, has taken to his TikTok account – now followed by almost 300,000 – to declare his love for the chocolate muffins on offer. “They’re very rich, and I like that,” Christiansen said in an interview. “Some people might find it too powerful, but they’re right up my alley.”
The humble, paper-wrapped delights, affectionately dubbed "choccy muffs" by Christiansen, aren't as misplaced in the athlete's diet as it may appear. Given the Norwegian's long-distance swimming prowess, he needs to stock up on thousands of calories a day. "On my most heavy training days, I can get up to almost 7,000 calories," he said. A convenient requirement for a self-proclaimed "sweet tooth".
Will the calorie injection of Christiansen's beloved "muffs" set this sweet tooth up for success? His upcoming 1500m freestyle heats and 10km marathon stretch in the Seine will be the moments of truth. In the meantime, this is an Olympic love affair we can get behind.