Japanese athlete Hikaru Mori (森ひかる) recently clinched the World Champion title at the 2025 FIG Trampoline World Cup in Bulgaria. But beyond her impressive win, it was her "over-the-top expression" caught on camera the moment her scores were announced that unexpectedly went viral, introducing her to a whole new legion of fans. Even Mori herself poked fun at the moment on social media.
Mori posted a screenshot from the competition broadcast on her X account, laughing, "I was laughing way too hard when they announced first place at the World Cup, I had no idea the camera was on me (crying face emoji)." Her series of exaggerated, surprised faces immediately racked up likes and shares from countless netizens.
At just 26 years old, Hikaru Mori has represented Japan in the women's trampoline competition at two consecutive Olympic Games. Her performance at this World Cup stop in Bulgaria was phenomenal, securing gold in individual, synchronized, and mixed synchronized events, and even setting a new personal best!
Known for her ever-present smile, her expressive reactions during the competition showcased a delightful charm, allowing many netizens to rediscover this golden medalist.
▼ Hikaru Mori outside of competition.
Many of her fellow athlete friends also chimed in with playful comments. Gymnast Shunsuke Nagasaki quipped, "That's just Hikaru's style!" while artistic gymnast Mai Murakami added, "Her jaw literally dropped lol."
Other netizens couldn't get enough, exclaiming, "This kind of expression makes her so likable!" "She's got that 'manzai' comedian vibe all by herself, so entertaining!" and "That final glance at the camera? The photographer totally did that on purpose, I love it!"
Netizen reactions were overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with comments like: "Her mouth was just wide open the whole time, so hilarious lol," "She could totally be a reaction celebrity and still win championships," "The moment the results were announced, that expression shone brighter than the gold medal," and "I don't know much about trampoline, but I'm a fan just from seeing these photos."
Some netizens also mentioned that while they weren't familiar with Hikaru Mori before, seeing such a genuine and natural side of her made them want to support her even more.
As the topic continues to trend, many fans are jokingly saying, "Hikaru Mori isn't just a world champion in skill, she's also taken the crown for expression management!" While trampoline might not be the most popular sport, gaining this much attention through such an unexpected display is quite something!
via： togetter