Olga Ivanovna , a 77-year-old Russian grandmother who started streaming on Twitch just for fun, has become the most unexpected sensation in the gaming world. Known online as "i_olga ," or simply "Gran Olga ," she won the award for best gaming moment of the year at the NNYS ( NymN's New Year Show ) thanks to an impressive ace in Counter-Strike 2 .
But what few people know is that, behind the screen, there is a story of resilience: before becoming a streamer, she worked as a nurse in Moscow and now dedicates her days to what she loves most: video games.
The short video that made her famous shows Olga wiping out an entire enemy team on the legendary Dust II map , using an M4A1-S rifle with an accuracy many professional players would envy. The play, which has already surpassed 10 million views on social media, not only earned her the trophy but also $5,000 in prize money , as confirmed by the event organizers.
"I used to care for patients, now I eliminate entire teams." Born in 1968 in St. Petersburg , Olga spent much of her life working in hospitals before retiring. "I always loved video games, but I didn't have the time ," she confessed in an interview with The Gamer . Everything changed in 2021 when her grandson taught her how to use Twitch. "I started streaming Minecraft, but then I discovered Counter-Strike... and I was hooked," she said, laughing.
Today, her channel boasts over 247,000 subscribers , and her streams aren't just about gaming: she also shares anecdotes from his life in Soviet Russia and offers advice on overcoming loneliness in old age . "When I play, I don't feel like I'm 77 years old ," she says.
It wasn't his first feat... nor will it be his last
Although her NNYS-winning ace catapulted her to fame, Olga had already demonstrated her talent months earlier. In August 2024 , she repeated a similar feat on the same map, solidifying her status as a respected figure in the competitive scene .
But she's not content with CS2 : she also dominates games like Atomic Heart (a Russian shooter she loves for its aesthetics) and Diablo 2 , where her followers nickname her "the deadliest granny in Sanctuary" .
What's most surprising is that, despite his age, she plays between four and six hours a day . "I don't drink coffee, but I do drink a lot of water... and have patience ," she joked in a recent stream. Her success has inspired thousands of older adults to enter the world of gaming, proving that age doesn't define dreams.
“My grandchildren tell me I’m more famous than they are… and I like that,” she confessed with a laugh before starting another game. Meanwhile, her community continues to grow: every weekend, her chat is filled with messages in Russian, Spanish, and English , proof that gaming, in the end, knows no borders.
"Will I win another award? Who knows... but as long as I can move my fingers, I'll keep playing ," she declared. And with that attitude, Grandma Olga has already won something more valuable than money: a place in gaming history.
The epic play
Video link -> https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2000273341366562817/vid/avc1/1280x720/08L8AWpwuX9G6FDX.mp4