From a dog saving a soccer goal to an NFL star’s heartwarming tribute for Memorial Day, viral sports moments capture the world’s imagination. More than just awe-inspiring plays or entertaining antics, they help athletes and brands bridge the gap to new fans and build communities of team loyalty.
Whether a wacky moment is completely unplanned or carefully engineered, it’s important to understand what goes into creating a viral sports moment. Using the same model that has helped a wide range of brands achieve online success, we’ve broken down how these moments can generate conversation and captivate audiences, from the unexpected to the unimaginable.
Many of these moments captivate sports fans by showing the lighter side of competition. But they also have the power to make us think about important issues that we face on a daily basis. This was the case with Freddie Andrews, a soccer player who risked his life to slide down a metal divider between two escalators on the London Underground in full gear. The stunt went viral and caused outrage, but Andrews later reflected on the impact his decision had on the public’s perception of him.
There was no shortage of head-scratching moments at the Olympics this year, from luger Rachael Gunn’s breakdancing antics to her polarizing performances to the bizarre wolf incident that had spectators and judges scratching their heads. But it’s worth noting that some of the wackiest sports moments have come outside the Olympic Games, from a football fan’s infamous twerk to Cam Newton’s rant against the media to Ilona Maher’s tumbling over Aussies on “Dancing with the Stars.” These micro-moments have left both sports fans and casual viewers wondering what goes into creating a viral sports moment.