Does anime’s presence at the Paris Olympics signal the end of the jock-nerd divide?

If you need any evidence that anime has firmly entered the mainstream, look no further than this year’s Paris Olympics Games.

Anime’s moment in the zeitgeist — already well underway prior to the Olympics’ July 26 start — has continued to pick up momentum at the world’s premier sporting event. Athletes from several countries have made new fans by striking victory poses from their favorite anime shows, while spectators have populated the internet with memes comparing athletes to anime characters.