If social media is any indication, it’s not the sweet triumphs of Celine Dion, Simone Biles or the U.S. men’s gymnastics team that is the talk of these Paris Games. It’s something even sweeter: Olympic chocolate muffins. That’s all thanks to Norwegian three-time Olympian long-distance swimmer Henrik Christiansen.
Christiansen innocently enough reviewed a chocolate muffin along with other foods offered at the Olympic Village, giving the muffin an 11 out of 10. However, with his one TikTok video, the 27-year-old unknowingly began a social media craze over the Olympic chocolate muffins.
Christiansen has posted a dozen videos about the tasty treats and getting over 10 million views in the process. He has even dubbed himself the “Olympic Muffin Man.”
Though the Olympian made it to Paris to compete in the 800-meter freestyle and the 1500-meter freestyle, it’s his love for these now iconic muffins that has the world abuzz. Christiansen told The New York Times the muffins are “very rich,” and while “some people might find it too powerful,” they’re “right up his alley.”
The caterer supplied 2,000 pastries to the Olympic Village to feed 15,000 athletes, but thanks to Christiansen, it’s the chocolate muffin that’s going viral. The muffin madness is not just happening with social media users, but also with his fellow Olympians too.
New Zealand swimmer Lewis Clareburt posted a TikTok tracking down the Olympic Muffin Man — and a muffin for himself.
U.S. gymnast Brody Malone told People he tried his first one recently. He described it as “really good” and “gooey.” Teammate Stephen Nedoroscik, who’s been trending himself thanks to his Olympic performance, said he’s a fan of the chocolate filling. Filipino-American gymnast Aleah Finnegan also couldn’t help herself and bought into the hype.
With all the talk about these Olympic chocolate muffins, social media users began their investigation on who made them and how they can get them without becoming an Olympic athlete themselves.
The mystery was solved with a simple LinkedIn post by the French bakery Coup de Pates. The posted, translated from French, “We knew our Maxi Muffin with Intense Chocolate was something special… But we didn’t expect it to spark such a chocolate storm! Thank you all for the love!”
The company told Eater that the muffins are available in many countries around the world and they are on sale online, but only for food service professionals.
For anyone thinking about trying to make their Olympic chocolate muffins at home — good luck. The company, not offering any assistance, told TODAY its recipe is a secret crafted by its chefs.