Paris 2024 Olympics: "Oh my god, we're best friends": Michaela Blyde meets idol Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in wholesome viral video
"I just saw royalty," said a tearful Michaela Blyde while sitting with her rugby sevens teammates in the athlete canteen at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
There is actual royalty in Paris, with the likes of Queen Mary and King Frederik X of Denmark in attendance. However, the New Zealander meant sprint royalty, one Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, eight-time Olympic medallist and 16-time world champion.
"Oh my god, oh my god," Blyde continued, wiping her eyes while the camera panned to her giggling teammates who take to the field for the first time in Paris on Sunday (28 July) against People's Republic of China, then Canada, in Pool A. The Olympic champions then play Fiji, the bronze medallists at Tokyo 2020, the following day (29 July) after which, progression to the knockout stages is expected of the Black Ferns.
The next post captured Blyde reclining on one of the (in)famous beds in the Olympic Village, scrolling through her phone.
We know what's coming because the post is captioned, ''Your idol follows you on Instagram..." but the next minute Blyde has sat upright, face in hands with emotion before the shot cuts to her leaping around the room because, well, Fraser-Pryce has followed her on Instagram.
The feed shows two hearts in the comments from the sprint queen herself, before confirmation that the three-time Olympic champion has now joined Blyde's 70k followers on the platform.
"Oh my god, we're best friends," said Blyde.
Michaela Blyde meets Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Cut to the team out and about in their New Zealand kit as Blyde gets a message from her favourite Jamaican.
Cue more tears. Then panic.
"I've accidentally clicked on the message," she said.
"You've got to reply," urged her teammates.
Blyde tried to type back, through more tears, but goes blank. She just can't think what to say.
It's much easier making decisions on the rugby field when you've got the opposition bearing down on you, apparently.
Bouncing around, Blyde has given up trying to write a message and has given her phone to a teammate to write something for her. It's akin to getting your mate to ask someone out for you at school, but way more stressful.
"Would love to get a photo, would love to get a photo," Blyde urged her teammate to write. "Make me look cool, make me look cool."
'Too late,' pops up a screen caption.
The team deliberated. Starry-eyed emoji or no starry-eyed emoji? It's the type of teamwork that will come in handy as the side aims to secure a third Olympic medal in as many editions after claiming silver in rugby sevens' inaugural showing at Rio 2016.
Decision made: "No, that's too much."
Everyone seems relieved.
"And, send."
A pause, and then everyone screams.
The action continues as an Olympic athlete sprints through Paris, and it's not Fraser-Pryce, who takes to the track for her first event, round one of the women's 100m, on Friday 2 August. Instead, it's a barefoot Blyde running toward the amused Jamaican after the pair had arranged a meeting.
A big hug ensued with the bucket-hatted mother-of-one, decked out in the vibrant sunshine yellow of the Jamaican kit, an antithesis to the grey skies of France that dumped a deluge of rain on the athletes at the Opening Ceremony the night before, dampening no one's spirits such was the spectacular occasion.
"You're shaking," laughed Fraser-Pryce after an extended hug. "Breathe," she told Blyde, using another technique athletes use in moments of high tension. "Breathe."
Later, Blyde posts again: "I just met my idol. In a stained shirt, baggy shorts and bare feet. @realshellyannfp you have no idea 😭❤️ this country kiwi kid is so happy 🥰."
The joyful series of posts prompted another athlete TikTokker and rugby sevens player in Paris, Ilona Maher from Team USA, to joke: "Fastest I've ever seen you run."
"My calves need treatment after that," responded Blyde.
And so the playful vibe of the Games in Paris is encapsulated in just this one story, with athletes able to enjoy the full experience once again.