Home HomeSwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Olympic love sparks interest in "sports romance" genre

Couples reuniting on the tennis court and kissing in front of the cameras – on Booktok, the love stories during the Olympic Games have given the book genre "sports romance" a new boost.

» Updated: 19 September 2024, 20:30

» Published: 14 August 2024

Olympic love sparks interest in "sports romance" genre
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

The genre has been popular on Tiktok's book community Booktok for a longer period, but got a proper breakthrough last year, according to book influencer Jasmine Darban.

Among the most notable titles are the hockey romance novels "Icebreaker" by Hannah Grace and "Pucking around" by Emily Rath, as well as the Formula 1 series "Dirty air" by Lauren Asher. Common to the books is that they are love stories set in sports contexts.

During the Olympic Games in Paris, the genre got a new boost, after public love declarations among athletes were caught on Booktok.

For example, a clip of Armand Duplantis, who kisses his girlfriend in front of the cameras directly after setting a world record, went viral and was described as a scene from a romance book.

Tennis players kissed after the gold

Another example is the tennis couple Katerina Siniakova and Tomás Machac, who celebrated their Olympic gold in mixed doubles by kissing on the tennis court. On social media, it is speculated that the players broke up just weeks before the competitions started.

Many liken it to the "second chance" trope found in many romance books. That is, they get a new chance with each other, says Jasmine Darban.

But it's not just the Olympic Games that have increased interest in the book genre. Darban mentions Wimbledon and Formula 1 as examples of other sports events that engage readers on Tiktok.

I don't get the feeling that many of them care about sports, really. During the Olympic Games, it's mainly been about people thinking it's romantic to see athletes show their love in front of millions of people.

Taylor Swift fuels the trend

Global superstar Taylor Swift, and her relationship with Kansas City player Travis Kelce, are also seen as a factor in the increased popularity of the "sports romance" genre.

It's the world's biggest artist dating an athlete. She shows up at his matches, and he goes to her concerts. It's not surprising that it has become a trend, says Darban.

At the same time, there is a risk that the boundaries between real athletes and fictional romances become blurred on Booktok. In 2023, an influencer got into trouble when she made videos about the players in the hockey team Seattle Kraken, something that was initially encouraged by the team.

But then she got criticism for sexualizing the players, and the wife of one of them went out and said it had gone too far. So, there is another side to this trend as well.

In 2023, the subgenre of hockey romance novels, which is part of the "sports romance" genre, caused controversy on Tiktok, something that The New York Times reported on.

It happened both through several hockey teams joining the Booktok community and through Booktok profiles sharing content inspired by the books but targeting real players.

Some of the content was explicit and referred to sex, and in some cases, it went further onto the arenas. It all culminated when the wife of one of the hockey players in Seattle Kraken went out on social media and said that the comments directed at her husband had turned into sexual harassment.

The team later removed all content from its Tiktok account that referred to Booktok.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

They Can Be the Thriller of the Year
1 MIN READ

They Can Be the Thriller of the Year

Liam Payne flies home to England
1 MIN READ

Liam Payne flies home to England

They will be hosting Melodifestivalen
2 MIN READ

They will be hosting Melodifestivalen

Emotional when Hans dies in "Wahlgren's World"
2 MIN READ

Emotional when Hans dies in "Wahlgren's World"

The TV series about The Pirate Bay doesn't take sides
3 MIN READ

The TV series about The Pirate Bay doesn't take sides

Kimmel after Trump's victory: "Good evening for Putin"
1 MIN READ

Kimmel after Trump's victory: "Good evening for Putin"

The Turnaround: SR Takes Over Threatened Library
1 MIN READ

The Turnaround: SR Takes Over Threatened Library

Up to 400 may be laid off from Finnish Yle
1 MIN READ

Up to 400 may be laid off from Finnish Yle

The Swedish songs that count towards the EU's songbook
1 MIN READ

The Swedish songs that count towards the EU's songbook

Oasis Expands World Tour
1 MIN READ

Oasis Expands World Tour

Kristofer Hivju is Santa's unknown brother
3 MIN READ

Kristofer Hivju is Santa's unknown brother

Celebrities react to the election result
2 MIN READ

Celebrities react to the election result

The State Wins Against Secretly Filmed Vaccine Opponent
2 MIN READ

The State Wins Against Secretly Filmed Vaccine Opponent

St. Goran Hospital becomes a reality TV show
1 MIN READ

St. Goran Hospital becomes a reality TV show

"Michael" to Premiere in Fall 2025
1 MIN READ

"Michael" to Premiere in Fall 2025

Million Support to Malmö Art Hall
1 MIN READ

Million Support to Malmö Art Hall

Jens Lapidus makes TV about famous violent crimes
2 MIN READ

Jens Lapidus makes TV about famous violent crimes

Million Grant to Malmö Art Hall
1 MIN READ

Million Grant to Malmö Art Hall

This week's film and series
2 MIN READ

This week's film and series

Dr. Phil: I'm not supporting Trump
1 MIN READ

Dr. Phil: I'm not supporting Trump