The 3rd Place Celebration meme is based on a 2020 webcomic by Russian artist Igor Kalnikov, known online as 3Palec. The illustration depicts a bronze medalist celebrating his third-place finish with wild, unearned enthusiasm—popping champagne, biting his medal, and kissing the podium girl—while the gold and silver winners look on in confusion. It quickly became a viral sensation as a relatable symbol for celebrating minor achievements, maintaining self-confidence, or simply finding joy in life’s smaller successes regardless of actual rank or status.