While Kim Ye-ji, a 31-year-old South Korean pistol shooter, won a silver medal in the 10-meter air pistol event on Saturday, her sense of style also seemed to catch people’s attention, making her an internet sensation.
People were captivated by her “futuristic steampunk-esque glasses” according to NBC News.
The Olympics notes that her high-tech glasses are popular among shooting athletes because they help reduce blur and improve visual focus, featuring lenses, blinders, and a mechanical iris.
Kim’s uniform also gained a lot of attention, which included a Fila tracksuit and a cap from The North Face, both adorned with South Korea’s flag.
Women’s Wear Daily categorized her style as the popular “health goth” aesthetic of the mid-2010s.
The microtrend mixes sporty clothing with music-inspired styles. It blends the athletic looks of brands like Adidas and Nike with the edgy vibes of high-fashion labels such as Rick Owens and Nasir Mazhar.
While fans raved about her iconic glasses and uniform, many social media users also admired her natural confidence and drew comparisons to James Bond and Satoru Gojo, a sorcerer from the popular manga Jujutsu Kaisen.
She even caught the attention of high-profile figures like Elon Musk, who suggested it would be “cool” to cast her in an action movie.
Tik tok creator Stylebykvn gained over 360,000 views on a video discussing Kim and her rise to popularity as the “internet’s new style icon” with an “infinite aura and ice-cold stance.”
“While she didn’t win gold, she’s definitely won our hearts and the runway,” said Stylebykvn.
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