Megan Fortunate stated she by no means anticipated to repeat her viral beer-chugging stunt on the US Open this yr — however now she “can’t wait to maintain the custom going.”
“I used to be like, if it occurs once more, I'd like to have one other second, to have the gang go wild yet another time,” Fortunate, 26, instructed The Submit in a cellphone interview on Wednesday.
Fortunate and her boyfriend had been sitting on the Louis Armstrong Stadium — one of many smaller venues internet hosting the US Open in Queens — on Friday when she stated she seen digital camera operators lock eyes along with her after which start frantically speaking with each other on their walkie-talkies.
“And I assumed, uh oh!” Fortunate recalled.
“Certain sufficient, afterward the cameras discovered me. I seized the second and chugged the beer,” she stated, including that it was Heineken.
Fortunate’s speedy brew glugging was broadcast on the venue’s Jumbotron, and from there it shortly went viral on social media.
“I simply love having a second to have individuals excited and cheer and really feel one thing,” she stated.
Fortunate, who lives in New York Metropolis and works a company job, had her first sudden brush with Web fame precisely a yr in the past when she downed a beer on the identical stadium to the delight of her fellow spectators.
The sports activities fan instructed The Submit that her preliminary beer-guzzling feat was spontaneous — and partially fueled by earlier alcohol consumption.
“I used to be a little bit tipsy and I had a little bit liquid braveness in me. It was undoubtedly spur of the second,” Fortunate admitted, including that when she noticed her face on the Jumbotron, she felt like she had “to do one thing.”
Fortunate described the social media frenzy that adopted her stunt as a “hoot.”
“I felt like a mini-celebrity for some time,” she stated. “I by no means anticipated any of this to occur… I didn’t plan it. It simply occurred.”
The tennis fan stated that arriving on the stadium final week, she instructed her boyfriend she didn't count on to point out up on the enormous display screen once more. And the pair ended up sitting in numerous seats from final yr — with their seatmates being a teetotaling pastor and his spouse.
It seems that Fortunate’s back-to-back beer gulping has impressed others to comply with in her footsteps: throughout a US Open match on the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday evening, one other fan was seen downing a sudsy beverage on digital camera.
“I feel it’s the best factor ever,” she stated of this creating pattern. “I’m honored… I like bringing individuals collectively via sport. I simply suppose it’s actually, actually cool to be an emblem nearly.”
Fortunate admitted that she shouldn't be a serious beer fanatic, doesn't have a favourite model of brew and would “simply drink no matter is in entrance of me,” she stated, whereas stressing that she doesn't advocate for binge-drinking, as her speedy swigging would possibly recommend.
“It was within the second. I wish to have enjoyable. However I’m not pounding 100 beers,” she added with amusing.
Fortunate revealed that she enjoys sports activities – she is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan identical to her dad – and in addition follows tennis. Throughout this yr’s US Open, she had been rooting for Australian Nick Kyrgios and her idol Serena Williams.
Now that each of the tennis superstars are out of the championship, Fortunate stated is simply looking forward to enjoyable.
Requested about her newfound on-line fame, Fortunate stated she’s making an attempt to maintain herself grounded, regardless of all the eye surrounding her.
“Folks simply see a small sliver of me, and I've to maintain it in perspective,” she stated.
In the meantime, Fortunate is already planning to return to the US Open subsequent yr, beer in hand.
“I can’t wait to maintain the custom going,” she stated.
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