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title: Rio 2016 Olympics: Game of Thrones Jokes Brandon Starc
description: Olympic high jumper Brandon Starc has qualified for the men&#x27;s final, but it isn&#x27;t just his athletic ability that has drawn fans to him.
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article:published_time: 2016-08-15T17:09:06.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:35:30.024Z
og:title: Game of Thrones Fans Have a Lot of Jokes About Olympic High Jumper Brandon Starc
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# _Game of Thrones_ Fans Have a Lot of Jokes About Olympic High Jumper Brandon Starc

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![Megan McCluskey](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf85e445233dc41d2/698940894ee2620cd9313802/m_mccluskey.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1:1)

by 

[Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)


![Megan McCluskey](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf85e445233dc41d2/698940894ee2620cd9313802/m_mccluskey.jpg?branch=production&width=96&quality=75&auto=webp)

## Megan McCluskey


Staff Writer

Aug 15, 2016 5:09 PM UTC

![Megan McCluskey](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf85e445233dc41d2/698940894ee2620cd9313802/m_mccluskey.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1:1)

by 

[Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)


![Megan McCluskey](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf85e445233dc41d2/698940894ee2620cd9313802/m_mccluskey.jpg?branch=production&width=96&quality=75&auto=webp)

## Megan McCluskey


Staff Writer

Aug 15, 2016 5:09 PM UTC

Olympic high jumper Brandon Starc qualified for the [2016 Rio Summer Games](http://time.com/4451806/usain-bolt-gold-rio-2016-olympics-100-meters-gatlin-blake/) men’s final over the weekend, clearing 2.29 meters with his last attempt of Sunday’s semi-final competition. But it isn’t just the Olympian’s incredible athletic ability that has recently drawn fans to him.

With basically the same name as [_Game of Thrones_‘](http://time.com/4385303/game-of-thrones-season-7-questions/) [Bran Stark](http://time.com/4385552/game-of-thrones-bran-stark-jon-snow-father/), the 22-year-old Australian has begun attracting the attention of viewers of the HBO drama, many of whom have taken to Twitter to joke about the similarity.

**Some have poked fun at the irony of Starc’s chosen sport:**

> [](https://twitter.com/DanWilde9/status/765008519263248384)

> [](https://twitter.com/katellora/status/765003803372294144)

> [](https://twitter.com/infiniterain/status/765004937147379712)


**While a few have quipped about Bran’s former gentle giant bodyguard:**

> [](https://twitter.com/Sam%5FVecenie/status/765005560517320705)

> [](https://twitter.com/BrisbaneRover/status/765100097185062912)

**Others had more general** **_Thrones_** **jokes:**

> [](https://twitter.com/Short%5Fepics/status/765005614879764480)


> [](https://twitter.com/L%5Fou%5Fise/status/637189469108588544)

> [](https://twitter.com/federering/status/765185280101842948)

> [](https://twitter.com/antsharwood/status/765004753898209280)


Starc will compete in the men’s high jump final on Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. EST.

\[[h/t Vanity Fair](http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/08/brandon-starc-game-of-thrones-fans)\]

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