That Sinkins feeling: Dance judge moves Chinese netizens

In the world of dance sport, all eyes are typically fixed on the athletes — their immaculate makeup, flowing movements and dazzling costumes commanding the spotlight.

But, at the dance sport event of the Chengdu World Games, being held in Chengbei Gymnasium, the real showstopper wasn't on the dance floor at all.

Instead, it was a silver-haired judge standing quietly on the sidelines, whose effortless elegance sent the internet into a frenzy.

The phenomenon began when a Xiaohongshu user uploaded two candid shots of Sergejs Sinkins, the event's Latin dance adjudicator, mid-evaluation.

The caption read: "Anyone who sees him can't help but utter the word — 'elegant'."

In the photos, Sinkins is wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, his silver-gray hair neatly styled, black-framed glasses accentuating his sharp features. His tall, upright posture and refined demeanor exudes sophistication.

The post quickly went viral, amassing millions of views, with people online praising his "unmistakable elegance" and calling him "a man with manga-like proportions".

He was quickly dubbed "Ferrari" — because like the car, he never goes out of style.

The term gained traction online after the film F1: The Movie, starring 62-year-old Brad Pitt, premiered on the Chinese mainland in late June.

Pitt's charismatic smile and rugged physique sparked waves of admiration, with audiences declaring: "A handsome man stays handsome, even as he ages" — later evolving into the catchphrase "a Ferrari is still a Ferrari, no matter how old".

Since then, the internet has embraced a craze for "hot older guys".

"I don't know what to say, because I'm shocked about the situation, with this popularity explosion on social media in China," said Sinkins, the veteran Latvian dancer.

"I did nothing for this, but you chose me. This is unbelievable."

He revealed he'd received floods of messages on Instagram.

"We feel a very warm atmosphere, because of the Chinese people around us who are very open and keep sending warm words to me and my colleagues," he added.

When asked about the secret to maintaining his elegance and youthful vitality, the 191cm-tall dancer credited his lifelong dedication to the sport — which he began practicing at age seven — and his constant collaboration with younger generations.

He described dance sport as a discipline that transcends conventional sports. He emphasized that it represents not just physical competition, but an artistic synthesis of beauty, partnership dynamics and personal presentation.

He said that dancer must care about far more than technical skills — they need to cultivate complete aesthetic awareness, from couture-level costuming to makeup.

Sinkins expressed hope that this wave of attention for him might generate positive momentum for dance sport as a whole. He extended an open invitation, emphasizing that the world of competitive dance welcomes all who wish to experience its beauty and energy.

It's Sinkins' first visit to Chengdu, and he left on Sunday. He said he hopes to return to China both as a tourist with his family, and as an adjudicator for future competitions.

Li Hanmeng contributed to this story.