Winnie The Pooh Is Trending On Twitter For The Cutest Olympic Reason
Don’t worry, Winnie the Pooh is not “dead.”
British author A.A. Milne’s lovable fictional bear began trending worldwide on Twitter early Saturday, but for a heartwarming Winter Olympics-related reason.
Each time Japan’s figure skating star, Yuzuru Hanyu, concludes a routine, his fans throw their replica golden bears into the rink. It was no different after he scooped a gold medal in the men’s individual figure skating event at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The Pooh Bears are flying for Yuzuru Hanyu. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/FdCvGsXm80
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 17, 2018
The practice reportedly began back in 2010 after fans spotted Hanyu carrying a Pooh-themed tissue box cover. Per The New York Times, the bear has now become Hanyu’s lucky mascot. As for the dozens of toys that rained down onto the ice in Pyeongchang, they will be donated to local charities.
DID YOU KNOW? Yuzuru Hanyu donates all those Winnie the Pooh bears that get thrown on the ice to local charities wherever he's skating. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/GJjkrND3fp
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 17, 2018
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
