# 2012 Olympics - Most hilarious competitor names **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 31, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928 "2012-07-31T04:51:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Coustralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Coustralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coustralee)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/21 "2012-08-04T14:31:01Z")
Natalya Fokina-Semenova ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/22 "2012-08-04T14:54:51Z")
Canada’s womens doubles badminton team that advanced due to the disqualifications (ultimately lost the bronze medal match) are Alex **Bruce** and Michelle **Li**. Unfortunately there’s no tag team jeet kune do competition. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/23 "2012-08-04T15:36:07Z")
Ranomi Kromowidjojo - Dutch SwimmerDestiny: Getting beaten up by the Powerpuff Girls. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/24 "2012-08-05T14:52:56Z")
When they announce China’s Deng Linlin, it sounds like _ding a ling a ling_. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/25 "2012-08-05T15:01:17Z")
Regina George is a Nigerian runner. That is so fetch. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/26 "2012-08-05T16:02:28Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > Regina George is a Nigerian runner. > > That is so fetch. ??? I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/27 "2012-08-05T16:11:40Z")
[Fetch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sir_24duiF4). ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/28 "2012-08-05T21:35:10Z")
A Bulgarian runner in the women’s 400m hurdles unfortunately tripped on one of the hurdles and failed to finish. Her name? Vania Stambolova. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/29 "2012-08-05T21:45:10Z")
I’d say this guy is pretty unfortunate in the cheering department: [**Yoo Suk Kim**](http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/the-best-names-of-the-2012-olympics) Plenty more on that list. ---
**Author:** ![Coustralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Coustralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coustralee)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/30 "2012-08-06T15:31:13Z")
Semen Antonov ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/31 "2012-08-06T15:41:30Z")
> [@The\_Controvert](#): > > Yeah, I know I’m not supposed to find this funny, but I am easily amused and I love a cheap laugh. Here’s my three submissions (and why I find it hilarious): > > Destinee Hooker - USA Indoor Volleyball > > Destiny: Hooker I agree she has an unfortunate name, but [the woman is drop-dead gorgeous](http://a1.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0709/espn_bodyissue_28.jpg) (photo is SFW but not by much). She’s my height, too! ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/32 "2012-08-07T05:46:50Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Ranomi Kromowidjojo - Dutch SwimmerDestiny: Getting beaten up by the Powerpuff Girls. Best thing about her (given that she won) is that ‘Kromowidjojo’ more or less means “orderly victory”. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/33 "2012-08-07T06:14:35Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > Best thing about her (given that she won) is that ‘Kromowidjojo’ more or less means “orderly victory”. Apparently her ancestry is Indonesian, which accounts for the name. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/34 "2012-08-07T11:02:09Z")
Hanna Titimets raised a titter yesterday in the 400m hurdles, especially given the placement of the athletes’ names on their outfits. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/35 "2012-08-07T20:05:21Z")
Did anyone see the German diver land flat on his back during the prelims yesterday after losing his pike position and going into an uncontrolled spin? His name is **Stephan Feck**. I saw a lot of “Oh, Feck” headlines this morning. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/36 "2012-08-07T20:12:34Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Ning Ding who plays ping pong I came in here to mention her,but I think it is Ding Ning. Funny when the announcers say her name,It’s like hitting a ring for service bell at a hotel. > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I agree she has an unfortunate name, but [the woman is drop-dead gorgeous](http://a1.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0709/espn_bodyissue_28.jpg) (photo is SFW but not by much). She’s my height, too! This is NSFW ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/37 "2012-08-07T20:22:10Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Canada’s womens doubles badminton team that advanced due to the disqualifications (ultimately lost the bronze medal match) are Alex **Bruce** and Michelle **Li**. Unfortunately there’s no tag team jeet kune do competition. I came in to mention the team Bruce/Li. I watched the Bronze medal game and the English announcer mentioned it and started to giggle and proceeded to giggle every time the crowd started chanting BRUCE…LEE! ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/38 "2012-08-09T12:36:57Z")
Katie Bell U.S. Platform Diver reason it struck me funny–shares name with Quidditch team member from Harry Potter ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/39 "2012-08-09T13:19:44Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > I came in here to mention her, but I think it is Ding Ning. Depends whether you say the name in the Chinese or western order. Ding is her family name, Ning is her given name. One that hasn’t been mentioned yet is British high jumper Robbie Grabarz. The name raises additional fnarrs from the usual suspects because he posed for a gay magazine shoot recently… ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928/40 "2012-08-09T14:24:59Z")
Formula 1 fans feeling left out during the Olympics might like to know that one of the horses in the dressage is, for some reason, called Damon Hill. I’m just waiting for another horse called Schumacher to barge him out of the arena at the last minute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-most-hilarious-competitor-names/629928.md?page=3)