Italian Olympic gymnast Giorgia Villa has caused a stir on the Internet with her exclusive brand offering.
The 21-year-old from Lombardy won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics this week, marking Italy’s first silver medal for the women’s gymnastics team since 1928.
Despite this historic achievement, Giorgia has been making headlines on a completely different topic: her partnership with Parmigiano Reggiano.
She defied expectations of partnering with sports companies to collaborate with the cheese producer and praised Parmesan for its “support” at “this very important moment for my career.”
Giorgia has shared images of herself posing on parmesan cheese wheels with her gymnastics team, who are now in the spotlight following her Olympic victory, with one social media user calling her “My new heroine”.
Italian Olympic gymnast Giorgia Villa, 21, has caused a stir on the internet after photographs emerged of her unlikely branding deal with Parmigiano Reggiano (pictured)
While it remains unclear whether Giorgia is still in a partnership agreement with Parmigiano Reggiano, social media users are in awe of the resurfaced images.
Throughout the branding deal, which began in April 2021, the 21-year-old shared a series of posts about the cheese.
In one of the photographs, she was lying next to a wheel of parmesan and looking towards the camera with a serious expression.
In another, she sat on three parmesan wheels and struck a dramatic pose toward the camera.
The athlete praised the nutritional benefits of Parmesan, which is richer in protein than many other cheeses.
‘At this very important moment in my career, thanks to the support of an Italian excellence like @parmigianoreggiano who has accompanied me at all times, I have the opportunity to face each new challenge with the right energy and drive,’ he wrote in a post.
On the other hand, Giorgia said: “One of my favorite moments of the day is, without a doubt, snack time. It has become a daily routine, a few chips to regain energy and prepare for the new training,” she wrote in a post.
After her Olympic victory in Paris catapulted the images to fame, Giorgia has gained a new fan base: cheese lovers.
The gymnast, who won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, has shared a selection of images of herself posing with parmesan wheels.
Giorgia is photographed during the women’s artistic gymnastics team final at the Bercy Arena in Paris
The unlikely collaboration has sparked conversation on X, formerly Twitter, with one writing: “Cheese sponsorship is a goal.”
A second said: ‘Literally only she can serve this with a giant wheel of parmesan cheese and I respect her for that.’
“Witnessing someone else live out your dreams is no fun at all,” joked a third user.
A fourth wrote: “She looks so pretty holding this cheese, how can anyone look that good? But it’s also very strange, she’s living the cheese lovers dream for sure.”
Another said: ‘Giorgia Villa, Olympic silver medallist and now sponsored by Parmesan Cheese, sharing photos with giant wheels of her own is just one of those perfect and unexpected combinations that makes me so happy.’
The 21-year-old from Lombardy in northern Italy praised Parmigiano Reggiano as an “Italian excellence”.
Social media users have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the Giorgia brand deal.
This comes after former Team USA gymnast Laurie Hernandez was inundated with praise for predicting the United States’ gold medal in the team gymnastics final in Paris this week.
Simone Biles led her team to glory in France on Tuesday, becoming the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history. But as the success of Biles and her team died down, gymnastics fans flooded social media with praise for Hernandez, too.
Hernandez reported the event alongside commentator Rich Lerner for NBC in France.
Hernandez, 24, took to X to ask fans not to tag her in any negative comments, but it seemed like it was nothing to worry about.
She wrote: ‘Hi everyone, I had a great time commentating on the competition tonight. What a night!
‘Also, everyone is entitled to their own opinion (obviously), but if the opinion is related to me and is unpleasant, please don’t tag me (contrary to popular belief, I see it). Enjoy the Games!’
But it did receive a number of positive comments, led by ESPN’s Jenna Laine, who responded: “I loved your comments and insight. Thank you. Much love and respect.”
Another fan wrote: ‘Petition for Laurie Hernandez to provide commentary on all events because she is the perfect combination of sports knowledge, sharing it in an understandable way, and providing entertainment.
“Also because we need more ‘they were roommates’ moments at the Olympics.”
Another comment read: “I loved your comment! The emotion and information was pure gold for me. I hope NBC keeps you around for a long time!”
Another response read: “You are a wonderful light in the world.
‘Try not to let the naysayers discourage you. There is more happiness in the world and if we believe it, it can be true! Have fun in Paris and watch Golden Girls!’
Hernandez won team gold for the United States at the 2016 Games in Rio and a silver on the balance beam.