Is Michelle Jenneke The Anna Kournikova of The Rio Olympics 2016?

Every four years, thousands of Olympians compete in the summer games. A handful proudly bring home medals for their countries, but an even smaller amount go on to become household names. That’s the realm silver-medal winning Australian hurdler Michelle Jenneke occupies even though this is her first year at the Olympics. However, it has little to do with her athletic ability and everything to do with a dance.

During the 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics, Jenneke was caught on camera dancing during her pre-warmup before the 100 m hurdles race. Jenneke placed fifth, but it was her warmup that caught the internet’s attention. Her dance, which is filled with hip shakes and peppy jumps, quickly went viral. According to NY Daily News, the original video of Jenneke’s dance was soon taken down and, in true internet fashion, replaced with a remixed version complete with pop music. To date that remixed version has over 28 million views on YouTube. Since that viral day, Jenneke has now qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics and will be competing in the women’s 100 m hurdles tomorrow. So let’s break it down. Who is Michelle Jenneke, what has she done since that much discussed dance, and why is she so controversial?

WHO IS MICHELLE JENNEKE?

Jenneke is an accomplished Australian hurdler and model. She won a silver medal for the 100m hurdles during the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics when she was 18. This year is her first time competing in the Olympics.

WHAT TIME IS MICHELLE JENNEKE RACING AT THE RIO 2016 OLYMPICS?

Michelle Jenneke is racing in Round 1 of the Women’s 100m hurdles on Tuesday, August 16, which begins at 10:05 AM ET. That’s tomorrow! She is currently scheduled to be Heat 2, tentatively scheduled to begin at 10:12 AM. You can live stream Michelle Jenneke’s event on NBCOlympics.com, so long as you authenticate with your cable provider.

OKAY, LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT DANCE.

Sure. It is what Jenneke is best known for. You’ve seen the Olympics before, so you know the drill. Athletes typically use the warmup before an event as a time to get in the zone. This typically involves motionless visualization or some light to medium stretching. However, in Jenneke’s case, it involved the power of dance. Partially because she was the only one doing something out of the ordinary, partially because she’s conventionally attractive, and partially because the media is sexist, all cameras were on her, and the internet ate it up.

WHAT HAS SHE DONE SINCE THE DANCE?

The athlete has seemingly embraced her sexy status, starring in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue spread, a comedy video that playfully mocks the viral dance, and a bikini, bun, and pool water-filled endorsement video for World Star Hip Hop. It should be noted, that the video from WSHH features shot after shot of the athlete doing traditionally sexy things, like slowly getting out of a pool or tanning. These particular sexy things do very little to highlight Jenneke’s athletic prowess. Jenneke’s mom told an Australian newspaper that Jenneke doesn’t consider herself a “serious athlete,” and she’s been grateful for the opportunities her viral dance has given her.

IT IS A GREAT DANCE. SO WHAT’S THE CONTROVERSY?

There are two, actually: recent boob job accusations and Jenneke’s impact on track and field as a whole. The boob job controversy is pretty much a paint by the numbers. Jenneke posted a new photo on her Instagram, and people have been speculating whether or not she got a boob job. The athlete quickly shot those accusations down, telling people nothing was out of the ordinary and they don’t know how bras work. Nice shut down.

The deeper controversy surrounding this athlete isn’t something that has been explicitly stated but is something that crops up every time a female athlete of an underreported sport gets a lot of attention based on her attractiveness. Anna Kournikova is the best example of this — a talented tennis player widely praised for her looks who has been given millions of dollars in endorsement deals. On one hand, Kournikova’s participation in women’s tennis brought more attention to the sport. But on the other hand, the media’s fascination with Kournikova stole attention from other, more accomplished athletes, such as the Williams sisters. Kournikova is certainly talented in her own right, but as Bleacher Report covered, the athlete has shifted the standards in women’s tennis. Instead of being the best, athletes now have to look their best, have a killer sales pitch, and be “good enough.”

Jenneke follows the same trend. Though she’s gained a significant amount of media attention, she’s not considered one of the best track and field athletes at Rio. So is Michelle Jenneke the Anna Kournikova of women’s track and field? It’s too early to tell, but as commentators praise the athlete’s warmup tomorrow, you can be sure that question is going to be lurking in the background.

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The Sexiest Athletes of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games
Let's be real: the biggest competitions at the Olympics are the abs. Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Michelle Jenneke
NAME: Michelle Jenneke
COUNTRY: Australia
SPORT: Track & field (hurdles)
Jenneke warms up by doing a sexy dance, bouncing back and forth, right before she takes off, making the warm up just as exciting as her actual race. Getty
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Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Michael Phelps
NAME: Michael Phelps
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Swimming
Phelps has won 18 Olympic gold medals (22 total!), so all that bling on his chest only makes his body even hotter. Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - David Oliver
NAME: David Oliver
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Track & field (hurdles)
He won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic games, but he should get a gold medal for his perfect smile. Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Aly Raisman
NAME: Aly Raisman
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Gymnastics
Raisman is the returning gold medal winner to this year's games, and since her last victory, she competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2013, coming in fourth place with partner Mark Ballas.Getty
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Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Tom Daley
NAME: Tom Daly
COUNTRY: GB
SPORT: Diving
Daley won a bronze medal at the 2012 games, as well as lots of new adoring fans. The Speedos helped, in both cases. Getty Images
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Rickie Fowler
NAME: Rickie Fowler
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Golf
Tee off? More like t-shirt off, please! Fowler used to have a Justin Bieber-like haircut, but it's ok! These days, he's looking just as great as his swing is. Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Christen Press
NAME: Christen Press
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Soccer
Press is currently a forward for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League. She attended the 2012 games in London as an alternate for the US women's national soccer team, so she'll be ready to give it her all on the field this year. Getty
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Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Devon Allen
NAME: Devon Allen
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Track & field (hurdles)
Allen is currently attending the University of Oregon where he is both a wide receiver for the football team, and competing on the Oregon Outdoor Track and Field team in the 110 meters and 400 meters hurdles. This dude's athletic abilities know no bounds! Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Jordan Burroughs
NAME: Jordan Burroughs
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Wrestling
Burroughs is an Olympic champion in both freestyle wrestling and wearing one of those tight wrestling uniforms. Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Serena Williams
NAME: Serena Williams
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Tennis
If she's hot enough to be in Beyonce's music videos, she's hot enough for us. Oh, and also because she's one of the greatest living athletes of our time, too. Getty
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Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Logan Dooley
NAME: Logan Dooley
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Trampoline
Dooley received a trampoline as a gift for his 7th birthday, making it the most useful birthday present of all time, as he now jumps on one for his profession. Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Grigor Dimitrov
NAME: Grigor Dimitrov
COUNTRY: Bulgaria
SPORT: Tennis
We think this tennis player is super hot, and we're guessing his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger would probably agree. Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Sebastian Sole
NAME: Sebastian Sole
COUNTRY: Argentina
SPORT: Volleyball
The more Sole spikes volleyballs over the net, the more his hotness spikes on the chart of sexiness. Getty
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Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Casey Sablowski
NAME: Casey Sablowski
COUNTRY: Australia
SPORT: Field Hockey
Sablowski is a key midfielder on the Australia women's national hockey team, the Hockeyroos. Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Tony Yoka
NAME: Tony Yoka
COUNTRY: France
SPORT: Boxing
Yoka is making his very first appearance at the Olympic games this year. His nickname is "The Artist", maybe for the way he sculpted those biceps? Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Mohammad Mousavi
NAME: Mohammad Mousavi
COUNTRY: Iran
SPORT: Volleyball
Mousavi plays a middle-blocker on his team, but no one better block our view of him when he's on the screen! Getty
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Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Mariana Pajon
NAME: Mariana Pajon
COUNTRY: Colombia
SPORT: Cycling - BMX
Pajon took home the gold at the 2012 London Olympic games, and has won 14 world championships in her life, the first of which she clenched at just 9 years old.Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Chris Wyles
NAME: Chris Wyles
COUNTRY: USA
SPORT: Rugby sevens
Wyles usually plays a fullback or a wing, but he can also play a centre, which is good because once he steps on the field, he's sure to be the centre of attention. Getty
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Timo Boll
NAME: Timo Boll
COUNTRY: Germany
SPORT: Table Tennis
Boll will be making his third appearance at the Olympics, so he's probably ready for table tennis competitors as fierce as Monica from Friends is at the sport. Getty
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Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Alex Gregory
NAME: Alex Gregory
COUNTRY: GB
SPORT: Rowing
After Gregory and his team won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, his hometown celebrated by painting their mailboxes gold. Instagram
Sexiest Athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics - Timo Boll
NAME: Ning Zetao
COUNTRY: China
SPORT: Swimming
The internet has been freaking out over this hottie's abs. If he ever needs help working on his backstroke, we'll be first in line.Getty
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