Rowing athlete’s name at the Paris Olympics goes viral

A German rower at the Paris Olympic Games has gone viral over his eye-popping name on global broadcasts of his event.

The name that stopped the Paris Olympics. Photo: Twitter

The Olympic Games are renowned for producing some almost superhuman feats of athletic prowess.

Enter rower, J. Christ.

It’s the sort of name that generates attention when it appears on global Paris Olympic feeds.

The German has gone viral after his appearance in the men’s coxless pair event alongside compatriot Soenke Kruse.

The 25-year-old, whose full name is Julius Christ, quickly set social media alight after he turned out for the heats at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

The name that stopped the Paris Games. Photo: Twitter

“If this guy stands up and starts running on the water this will be the greatest Olympics of all time,” quipped Chris Bakke on a post on X.

“Surely one of these blokes has an unfair advantage on the water?” asked stand up comedian Danny McGinlay.

Their posts produced some hilarious comments.

“I don’t think they even need the boat lmfao,” was one response.

“Maybe he can walk?” asked another.

“The boat is holding him back,” wrote a third.

“All that water about to turn into wine,” suggested another.

Christ (left) and Kruse seen on land. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP)

Another X user added to the wine theme: “The French will demand he turn the water into wine first.”

There was another fan of these Olympics that felt both names were apt for a rowing event.

“One can walk on water and the other one is a cruise,” they wrote.

To top it off, Julius Christ also has a brother and his name, wait for it, is Johannes.

For the record, Christ and Kruse finished third in their heat behind crews from Great Britain and South Africa to qualify for the semi-finals and keep their hopes for more heavenly efforts alive.

Originally published as Rowing athlete’s name at the Paris Olympics goes viral