In a world where imitation is often embraced and creativity is visible from every angle, the realm of sports is no exception. This phenomenon extends to e-sports as well, where athletes have widely replicated the Fortnite Dance from the renowned online multiplayer video game. A similar development recently emerged in Free Fire, a game akin to Fortnite launched in December 2017.
The iconic post-match celebration of T20 World Cup 2024-winning captain Rohit Sharma has been immortalized as an emote. In this celebrated moment, Rohit made a stylish entrance to the podium after receiving the trophy from the chairperson of the International Cricket Council, Greg Barclay.
Rohit Sharma then lifted the trophy with a dramatic flourish, sparking exuberant celebrations with his team. This memorable celebration has been aptly incorporated into the game as an emote named Champion’s Walk, available for select characters within Free Fire.
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Notably, this is not the first instance of a sports figure performing such a celebration. Football icon Lionel Messi of Argentina was first observed executing this slow-walk celebration after Argentina secured a dramatic victory over France in the FIFA World Cup 2022, wherein Messi was named the Player of the Tournament.
Free fire released Rohit’s iconic WC walk as new emote😭💀 pic.twitter.com/DGkCVf5VQt
— ʀᴀɢɴᴏʀ⁴⁵ (@manchester_140) July 26, 2024
The second occurrence of this memorable celebration came when Messi replicated the gesture following Argentina’s triumph in the Copa America, clinching their 16th title less than a fortnight ago after a 1-0 win against Colombia.
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The incorporation of these iconic celebrations into video games highlights the growing synergy between traditional sports and e-sports. It reflects how memorable moments in sports history can transcend their original context, gaining new life and reaching new audiences in the digital realm. As e-sports continue to grow in popularity, such crossovers are likely to become more common, further blurring the lines between virtual and real-world sporting achievements.
