17 Pictures Documenting The Olympic Torch's Weird-As-Hell Trip Through Brazil
From a human torch to a marriage proposal, it's been a wild ride.
Let's be real: The best part of the Olympics is by far the Olympic torch, which is lit in Greece every four years and then travels to its final destination in the host country over the course of months.
It's always seriously entertaining and often completely mental. And the Rio 2016 Olympics have been no exception. So let's take a trip along with the torch throughout Brazil:
1. First, a "human-torch" popped up, stealing the show on the first day of the relay.
After such a moving performance, he was invited to carry the torch officially.
2. After that, the torch showed up on Mercado Livre, which is sort of like Brazilian eBay, at MODEST prices.
NBD, just $12,000 U.S.
(The envious will tell you it's a mock-up, but there are a bunch being sold.)
3. It was carried on just one foot.
These karate kicks had people around the world calling this guy the Brazilian "Chun-Li."
4. It fell down and got back up a few times — always lit.
Like this moment when a swimming teacher, Nikita, took a tumble but got up, shook off the dust, and bounced back with the Olympic torch in Pernambuco.
5. Amazingly, the Olympic torch WENT DOWN A WATER SLIDE and stayed lit.
6. There was a bit of Samba happening on the way through Amapá.
🎵Quem não gosta do samba bom sujeito não é...Ou é ruim da cabeça ou doente do pé🎵 💃👯 #ChamaNoAP #ChamaOlimpica
7. And the flame took part in this grand tribute to Luis Gonzaga, one of Brazil's most famous musicians.
It gave many Brazilians goosebumps to see the torchbearer and the police singing the song “Vida de Viajante."
8. Model Suzy Cortez did a body-painted torch cosplay.
View this photo on Instagram
Cortez, aka "Miss Bumbum 2015," posted at least four pictures to show off her work from all possible angles.
9. The torch even witnessed a marriage proposal.
(SHE SAID YES!)
10. And, of course, the torch was the target of an attempted robbery. Performed by a guy dressed up like Robin.
Be sure to watch the moment when the Boy Wonder's plans are foiled by vigilant security guards.
11. This freestyle soccer player juggled a ball and a torch at the same time!
12. The Olympic flame was ~magically~ transformed into a guitar!
This engineer, upon receiving the torch for his lap, couldn't resist rocking out. \m/_
13. It tooled around on a surfboard.
14. It found its way into a Capoeira demonstration.
15. In Roraima, the torch even caught a lift on a paraglider!
16. But the relay has also had its less than great moments, like when a jaguar escaped after an event and had to be put down.
17. And a guy allegedly tried to douse the flame with a bucket of water recently.
View this video on YouTube
There's still more than a month left until the torch completes its travels and lights the Olympic flame in Rio, so who knows what else it'll come across in that time.
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Raphael Evangelista é redator do BuzzFeed, em São Paulo.
Contact Raphael Evangelista at raphael.evangelista@buzzfeed.com.
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Hayes Brown is a world news editor and reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact Hayes Brown at hayes.brown@buzzfeed.com.
