Ryan Held Cried After Winning Gold And Immediately Became America's Darling

Everyone suddenly loves Ryan.
Nathan Adrian, Ryan Held, Michael Phelps and Caeleb Dressel listen to the U.S. national anthem as they stand on the podium of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay final.
Nathan Adrian, Ryan Held, Michael Phelps and Caeleb Dressel listen to the U.S. national anthem as they stand on the podium of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay final.
CHRISTOPHE SIMON via Getty Images

Ryan Held raced the third leg of the men's 4×100 freestyle relay on Sunday, helping the U.S. to win gold. But it’s what happened after the race that has a lot of people talking about him to start the week. The 21-year-old swimmer from Springfield, Illinois, cried a good cry, and the world loved him for it. Just take a look at these photos.

Clive Rose via Getty Images
Jean Catuffe via Getty Images
Ian MacNicol via Getty Images
Jean Catuffe via Getty Images
Jean Catuffe via Getty Images
Tim Clayton - Corbis via Getty Images

Held, who swims at North Carolina State University, is an Olympic rookie, so it’s understandable he felt overwhelmed after winning gold. “I didn’t think I was going to cry. I was too tired to cry, I didn’t think I could cry,” Held said afterward, according to ABC. “I’ve heard the national anthem hundreds of times, but as soon as that played it was just something different. The tears just started rolling down my face.”

And that was just fine, according to the internet.

For more Olympics coverage:

Before You Go

Ryan Held Is An Adorable Young Man

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot