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On July 29, 2024, Italian gymnast Elisa Iorio made news for being a BTS fan. According to Koreaboo, a sharp-eyed member of the BTS ARMY noticed a tattoo on Elisa Iorio's back. The tattoo said "LOVE YOURSELF" in Korean. The tattoo also featured a heart that resembled the album cover for the band's LOVE YOURSELF: Answer.
After the photo went viral, the septet's global fan base was convinced that she was a fan of the K-pop phenomenon. When they looked at her Instagram account on social media, they discovered an Instagram highlight featuring images of the K-pop band. Moreover, the band's hand-cheering picture was kept as a cover image on her official X account.
The 21-year-old gymnast is part of the Italian National Team alongside Alice D’Amato, Andreoli, Esposito, and Giorgia Villa for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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Fans were thrilled to learn that an Olympic gymnast from the Italian National Team was a fellow ARMY. One fan wrote on X,
“BTS world domination is real.”
Others applauded and emphasized how the septet's group banner united people from many nations.
"When we say armys are so talented and you could see them everywhere," one fan wrote on X.
"At first I was like “why does this Italian girl have a tattoo in Hangul?” because I didn’t see the heart. Then I read the words and was like “oh right BTS.” BTS is the top reason non-Koreans have Korean tattoos and there isn’t a close second," another fan added.
"We may be from different countries but bts united us under one banner," one other fan said.
Additionally, ARMY declared its support for Elisa Iorio and promised to root and cheer for her during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
"Oh my god as an Italian I'm so proud, I hope it brings you a lot of luck," one fan commented.
"Congratulations Army on making the Olympics!!! ... I'll be cheering you on!!" another fan wrote.
"THE WAY SHE HAS BTS LYRICS AND THE LOVE YOURSELF HEART TATTOOED AND ITS VISIBLE," one other fan added.
Athletes and international celebrities who are members of the BTS ARMY
Hollywood celebrity and professional wrestler John Cena has expressed his love for the K-pop band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ellen DeGeneres' The Ellen Show, and on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
The Indian Express reported that John Cena mentioned on Jimmy Fallon's show that the K-pop group's music helped him get through bad days and he calls himself a "proud ARMY."
Olympic Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka is well-known for being a fan of the septets. In September 2023, she met the band's member Min Yoongi, aka Suga, at an NBA tournament match in Tokyo and posted about it on her official X account. Osaka recalled speaking with Suga and telling him that Autumn Leaves is her favorite song.
Additionally, the youngest player on the women's table tennis team and an Olympian, Shin Yu-bin, is an avid admirer of the K-pop band. The South China Morning Post reported that Shin Yu-bin listens to the band's songs, such as Dynamite and DNA, while warming up before her matches and has pictures of the group's members in her backpack.
In other news, the Love Yourself band is currently serving in the military. BTS Jin was discharged from the military on June 12, 2024, while the other six members are currently engaged in their mandatory service. They will return by June 2025.
