Bob the Cap Catcher earned his way to fame during this morning’s prelims session of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Bob came to the rescue in the middle of the women’s 100 breaststroke to retrieve the cap belonging to Emma Weber of the US after her cap sank to the bottom of the La Defense Arena.
Bob earned many loud cheers as he walked on deck in his speedo before diving into the pool and retrieving the cap. The loudest cheers came after he climbed out of the pool.
All swimmers are limited to two caps. This allows swimmers to place one cap under their goggles and another over their goggles, or two caps under their goggles or two over, ensuring their hair does not get let loose causing an immense amount of drag in case one falls off.
The video also allows us to get a better view of the pool depth, which is shallower than usual. The two 50-meter pools in the La Defense Arena are about 2.15 meters or 7 feet. This is over two and a half feet and 31.5 inches to be exact less than the pool at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as that pool was about 9 feet, 8 inches deep.
GIVE THIS MAN A MEDAL! 🥇
When a rogue swimming cap found its way into the Olympic pool, this man and his snazzy shorts sprung into action in front of 15,000 people 👏👏#BBCOlympics #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/QkYxhGupbK
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 28, 2024
Who do you call when a swim cap falls in the pool?
“BOB THE CAP CATCHER.” 😂#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/eN5ycGkKjw
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 28, 2024
When the ‘lifeguard’ is just somebody’s uncle #Olympics pic.twitter.com/1cR2Y5phQM
— Dan Cobb (@thedancobb) July 28, 2024
The Euro’s had the Saxophone player… The Olympics has the Swim Cap Retriever… not all heroes wear capes#Paris2024 https://t.co/t1nNcmIf44
— RGF (@rgfray1) July 28, 2024
🩲 The bizarre moment this bloke in Speedos is asked to fetch a swim cap out of the pool this morning… #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/CC3NeDfomS
— David Coverdale (@dpcoverdale) July 28, 2024
Just when I thought I’d seen it all at the Olympics! That dude in speedos stealing the show (and a lost swim cap) has got to be the most unexpected highlight reel of the games Who else is loving this unconventional display of teamwork?
— Melis (@Melfeqixrs) July 28, 2024
Just a guess. But could Bob be Associated Press photographer Mark J Terrill? He is often responsible for underwater cameras at big events like the Olympics.
AVD “all swimmers wear 2 caps” wrong plenty of high level swimmers wear 1 cap
AVD “And a lot of swimmers wear 3” no they don’t it’s not even allowed this commentary is just ridiculous 🤦♂️
She needs to be fired. Where can we provide feedback to the network that she actively harms our sport?
How do I get this job for 2028?
get in line
The commentary job or to become Xman the Cap Catcher?
Cap catcher. My commentary would be bleeped out 🙂