South Korean pistol shooter Kim Ye-ji, whose video of breaking a world record at the Olympics with almost no visible reaction went viral on social media, demonstrates a shooting position at the Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, August 7, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon
INCHEON, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korean pistol shooter Kim Ye-ji on Wednesday thanked billionaire Elon Musk for making her world famous after she became an overnight social media phenomena, with users praising her confidence and style.
Kim has gone viral across social media during the Paris Games and drawn in new fans. Her style, featuring futuristic eye-glasses, a cold look and a stuffed elephant toy dangling from her waist - catapulted her to stardom.
Some social media users praised her confidence and manner, while other compared her to fictional spy James Bond, prompting recognition from big names, including Tesla CEO Musk.
"I received a lot of unexpected attention and I believe it's thanks to Elon Musk rather than myself. So, thank you," Kim, who won silver in the women's 10-meter air pistol last week, told reporters when she returned to South Korea from Paris.
Musk commented on his social media platform X that Kim "should be cast in an action movie. No acting required!"
(Reporting by Daewoung Kim and Sebin Choi, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
