The 28th of July, Team USAEmma Weber lost her swim cap in the heat of the competition, prompting an unlikely hero in a Speedo to appear on the scene in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The man, now dubbed “Bob the Cap Catcher,” may not have won the race, but he did steal the hearts of viewers and fans online with an epic dive.
During the Women’s 100m Breaststroke PreliminaryWeber’s white swim cap with the Team USA logo fell off his head. While Weber likely had a second cap secured underneath, “Cap Catcher Bob” made sure to retrieve the original from the bottom of the pool.
According to the Associated PressThe man identified as “Bob” was a lifeguard. When the race was stopped, the man wearing a multi-colored Speedo was seen walking along the edge of the 10-foot pool. Seeing the swimming cap, he dove in.
The man was in the water for only a few minutes before he surfaced, climbed out of the water and lifted his cap. The stadium roared, applauding him as if he had found a diamond at the bottom. Then he calmly walked away.
As the moment came and went, fans online couldn’t stop thinking about “Bob the Cap Hunter” and his humorous gallantry.
Viewers at home took to X, formerly known as Twitter, praising the man and celebrating his stardom.
“He is an icon, he is a legend, he is time,” wrote one woman, while another added: “He is beauty, he is grace.”
A third added: “I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life.”
Even the official NBC The Olympics & Paralympics X account weighed in. “Who do you call when you drop a swim cap in the pool?” they wrote alongside a video of the iconic cameo. “BOB THE CAP CATCHER.”
“Bob the cap-catcher is the real Olympic champion! Heroic spirit!” argued another viewer.
Anyone else rooting for “Bob The Cap Catcher” in Paris today? Just me? I can live with that. Come on, Bob! image.twitter.com/35MyNXq6LU
— Betsy N (@betsyrnewman) July 29, 2024
One lover joked: “Anyone else rooting for ‘Bob The Cap Catcher’ in Paris today? Just me? I can live with that.”
Other TikTok users begged Bob to appear on screen more. Some, curious about his story, also asked for an interview.
“I need the full story,” one fan commented. A second TikTok user noted: “I want this job for the LA Olympics please.”
Luckily for that viewer, it seems the official account for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics might also be interested in hiring a “Bob.” “Thanks for your service, Bob,” the LA28 account commented.