Olympic Medalists Pay Tribute to Mortal Kombat With Incredible Performance

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Olympic silver medalists delivered a memorable performance inspired by Mortal Kombat, even incorporating music from the game and movies. Though some viewers might not have understood the references, Mortal Kombat fans instantly recognized the nods to the iconic franchise.

While the Olympics are known for showcasing top athletes in traditional sports, competitive video gaming is starting to play a role. The first Olympic Esports Series took place in 2023, and the International Olympic Committee is planning an even larger event, the Olympic Esports Games, scheduled for 2027.

Olympic Silver Medalists Pay Tribute to Mortal Kombat

via the IOC

Georgian figure skaters Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava won the silver medal at the Olympics, a first for their country in the Winter Games. After the competition, all top skaters participate in a celebratory Gala where they perform fun, non-judged routines. Metelkina and Berulava chose a creative performance, skating as the characters Kitana and Sub-Zero from the video game Mortal Kombat, and even wore costumes inspired by the game.

The performance began with a playful introduction about wanting to stay home and play video games, with one skater offering a lesson to the other. Then, to the energetic beat of “Techno Syndrome,” they revealed their costumes and took to the ice. What made the routine so impressive wasn’t just their skating skill, but how cleverly it incorporated references to video games. They started with playful moves, like one skater briefly mimicking character controls, before transitioning into more classic ice skating. The audience was amazed to see characters like Sub-Zero and Kitana come to life, including a spectacular throw jump and a daring spin. One particularly impressive move showed off their incredible skill: one skater spun rapidly while holding the other upside down by the legs, with their head barely missing the ice.

The Mortal Kombat section of the performance was a hit with fans of the game. After a powerful move, skater Metelkina pretended to be stunned, mimicking how characters looked when about to be defeated in the original games. But instead of performing a finishing move, her partner Berulava did a “Friendship” move – a peaceful gesture from the game – and they transitioned to the next part of their routine with a new song. They eventually returned to the Mortal Kombat theme, with Metelkina playfully “winning” their match by using the Kiss of Death on Berulava.

Figure skating and gaming enthusiasts were delighted by the recent performance, praising its originality and technical skill. But this isn’t the first time the Olympics have acknowledged video games. Perhaps the most memorable instance happened at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics in Rio and Tokyo. During the Rio closing ceremony, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared in a pre-recorded sketch. It showed him stuck in traffic before transforming into Mario. “Mario-Abe” then jumped down a green pipe in Japan, leading to the real Abe appearing live at the Rio ceremony, building excitement for the 2020 Olympics in Japan. The 2020 opening ceremony continued this trend, featuring music and imagery inspired by classic Japanese video games.

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2026-02-25 22:07