Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/mothershipsg

The Tokyo Olympics has had everyone glued to their screens as athletes from all over the world compete on the world stage for a chance at fame and glory.

As most marvel at the Olympians' display of strength and skill, one particular athlete from Japan might have attracted all sorts of attention for slightly different reasons.

Japanese volleyballer Ran Takahashi has had numerous people swooning on social media over his polished good looks.

Fan accounts on Twitter and TikTok have already been set up, containing photo and video compilations of Takahashi on the court in Tokyo.

“what’s on your mind?” oh nothing, just 19-year-old japanese volleyball player, Ran Takahashi, who plays as wing spiker/outside hitter in the Japan men’s national volley ball team pic.twitter.com/Uwh23P8Htb

— 𝖘𝖎𝖇☕️ (@sib_latte) July 29, 2021

Mixed ancestry

According to Takahashi's profile, he started playing volleyball at seven years old.

He picked up the sport after watching his older brother, Rui Takahashi, play at the gym.

After he succeeded in trying to serve the ball, he was encouraged by the coach to pick it up as well.

Before graduating, he was the captain of the Nippon Sport Science University volleyball team.

His team won first-runner up in the 2020 All Japan Intercollegiate Volleyball Championship, and Takahashi was also dubbed Best Scorer.

One of his hobbies is playing the guitar.

https://twitter.com/neosforever/status/1420229570028965892

Now 19 years old, Takahashi is the wing spiker in Japan's Olympics volleyball team, with his Olympics debut sparking a flood of social media posts gushing over him.

Takahashi's looks hint at a mixed ancestry — his mother is half-German, half-Japanese, and he also has some British blood.

can we talk about how beautiful ran takahashi is 🥺 pic.twitter.com/sZpQ9pJVF6

— skye. (@_kozumine) July 29, 2021

i’d do anything for that boy #rantakahashi <3 pic.twitter.com/Nc1iFEVgBf

— 🏳️‍🌈 (@bisehine) July 30, 2021

i’m canadian but ran takahashi is more important than my home country pic.twitter.com/0fHVbPfQon

— jadon ι(｀ロ´)ノ (@musenkunn) July 27, 2021

Ball skills

Takahashi is more than just a pretty face though, and videos have captured his impressive feats on the court.

At 1.88m tall, he is able to jump to a height of 3.43m.

A move the rookie pulled off where he feigned a spike and turned it into a set also amazed netizens, with fans noting that a similar move was carried out in the famous Japanese volleyball anime "Haikyuu!!".

Incidentally, Takahashi has revealed that his favourite "Haikyuu!!" character is Hinata Shoyo.

https://twitter.com/hahaparangtanga/status/1420227633061634052

Unfortunately, the Japanese volleyball team lost 3-0 to Brazil on Aug. 3 in the quarter-finals.

This is the first time Japan has reached the quarter-finals in 29 years, according to Reuters.

Follow and listen to our podcast here

Top photo from cessyproblems / Twitter and