ICYMI · Slate Podcasts

The Olympic Gold In Going Viral

February 25, 2026·34 min·3 clips

Alyssa Liu cements her comeback by yelling 'that's what I'm fucking talking about' after winning gold.

This episode of ICYMI, hosted by Kate Lindsey and senior supervising producer Daisy Rosario, explores two major viral internet stories from February 2026. They first dissect the emotional online phenomenon surrounding Punch, a young Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo. Punch was rejected by his mother and struggled to fit in with his troop, with viral videos showing other monkeys pushing him away and dragging him around. The zookeepers provided Punch with a small orangutan toy from IKEA, which he carries everywhere as a comfort object. This toy, the Jungle Skog, sold out globally and was resold on eBay for hundreds of dollars due to the trend. The zoo issued a formal statement explaining that these difficult interactions were part of Punch's socialization process and asked the public to support his efforts rather than pity him. Recent updates showed Punch beginning to be groomed by another monkey, indicating progress. The hosts then shift to awarding social media medals for viral moments from the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics. They award bronze to Nazgul, a Czechoslovakian wolf dog that escaped a nearby bed-and-breakfast and ran onto a cross-country skiing qualifying race, crossing the finish line to massive cheers. Silver goes to U.S. athletes Hillary Knight and Brittany Bowe, who got engaged at these Games after their relationship began during long walks at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. An honorable mention is given to Norwegian biathlete Storleholm LeGrade for his televised public apology to his girlfriend after cheating, which she ultimately rejected. Another honorable mention goes to freestyle skier Aileen Gu for her poised response to a reporter asking if her two silver medals were "two golds lost." The gold medal is awarded to figure skater Alyssa Lou, who retired at 16 after the 2022 Games but returned to win gold with a performance set to Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park." Her viral moment included exclaiming, "That's what I'm fucking talking about," after her routine, and she is noted for her bleached raccoon-tail hair and smiley piercing. Lou's comeback was defined by her own rules, including no dietary restrictions, and she displayed joyful support for other competitors. The episode has a conversational and humorous tone, blending cultural commentary with personal reactions to internet trends. Listeners who enjoy dissecting viral sensations and heartwarming Olympic stories will love this episode, while those seeking hard news or avoiding emotional animal content might skip it.

As heard by us

A viral animal interruption clip becomes a funny, oddly emotional look at why internet chaos sticks.

ICYMI treats Punch the Monkey as a burst of internet chaos with an unexpected emotional pull. Kate Lindsey and Daisy Rosario keep the pace moving, and the best stretches stay close to the crowd reaction, the animal crossing the finish line, and the hosts' attachment to Punch.

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Why you'd press play

When a monkey crashes a race and the internet immediately turns it into a whole mood.

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