Olympic 'superfan' can't get enough of the Games

There are Olympic fans. And then there are 'superfans.'

Vivianne Robinson is a 'superfan.' She has attended seven Games, going all the way back to Los Angeles in 1984. 

"My mom was a volunteer," says Robinson. "She would take the press to meet the athletes, and would provide translations. She would bring me all the pins, which are mementos, from the athletes."

The American is getting a lot of attention from her fellow fans in Paris. Some want to trade pins, others want that all-important selfie. 

"I love the Games because of the atmosphere that you feel. You meet people from all over the world," she adds.

Doing whatever it takes 

But Robinson's Olympic journey hasn't always been smooth. She had to skip the 2008 Beijing Games after running out of money. Now, she is doing whatever it takes to fund her obsession. 

"I worked two jobs to be able to come to these Olympics," says Robinson. "I made necklaces in the morning in Venice Beach, and at night I bagged groceries. It took me a long time to save up, and I worked very hard. I probably spent $10,000!"

The 'superfan' was on track to watch the Tokyo Games, but then the Covid-19 pandemic hit. "I had about 30 tickets for those Games, and then they said, 'No spectators." So I've been waiting eight years for this Olympics."

'Fanning' the Olympic flame

Robinson has had nearly 40 tickets to events in Paris. She has watched athletes competing in a range of sports, but one event was extra special. 

"I've already been to football, archery, badminton and tennis," she says. "But the best experience so far was watching Simone Biles in the gymnastics."

Los Angeles, her home city, will host the next Games in 2028. In a sense, Robinson's journey will come full circle. She may have to work a little more to watch the action in LA. But it's a price she's willing to pay. 

"Everybody seems to be in a good mood at the Olympics. I meet athletes and I see all these amazing cities," says Robinson. "I never spent so much in my life as I did in Paris. But it's well worth it, and I would do it again."

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