Sponsorships are a dime a dozen in elite sports. Once you reach a certain level, it’s almost expected that you’ll cut a deal with a brand like Nike (Jordan, LeBron) or Adidas (Messi, Beckham) or occasionally brands like Under Armour (Curry) or Uniqlo (Federer) to shake things up.



One young Italian gymnast is forging her own path, however, while embracing one of the best products her home country has to offer: cheese. Giorgia Villa, a 21-year-old from northern Italy who recently won silver in Paris, is an ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, the trade name for Parmesan cheese. This partnership means that occasionally, Villa has to pose for photos accompanied by gigantic wheels of cheese, and the results are glorious.



The press release announcing the partnership is even accompanied by a photo of Villa doing the splits on top of four giant wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano, which is undoubtedly one of the most Italian things a person can do. While the sponsorship may seem unusual to some — what does cheese have to do with elite sports? — the press release explains that this partnership was designed to highlight that the “combination of Parmigiano Reggiano and the world of sport is indissoluble in terms of authenticity, quality and energetic value, both in sporting activity and in correct nutrition.”


Sure, okay.



Along with the rest of her team, Villa came second in the women’s artistic team all-around competition, missing out on the gold thanks to the virtually unbeatable U.S. women’s team featuring Simone Biles. While second place at the Olympics is nothing to scoff at, we wouldn’t blame them if they went home and ate their feelings with a giant wheel of cheese. Giorgia’s got the hookup, after all.