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The Olympic hero we did not know we needed! Fans impressed after 'middle-aged man disrobes to just a Speedo' before diving into the pool to retrieve lost property of Team USA swimmer

3 months ago 28
  • Sunday morning's swimming session at Paris 2024 featured an unlikely hero
  • A 'middle-aged man' was called upon to dive into the pool and retrieve a cap
  • Fans, both in the arena and watching from home, enjoyed his brief cameo 

By Robert Summerscales

Published: 13:50 BST, 28 July 2024 | Updated: 13:50 BST, 28 July 2024

There was a hilarious moment in the swimming pool at Paris 2024 on Sunday.

It occurred during a brief delay between the preliminary heats in the 100m women's breaststroke event.

The competition was temporarily paused because an item was spotted at the bottom of the pool.


It turned out only to be a swimming cap that had seemingly fallen off the head of Team USA's Emma Weber.

Nevertheless, it needed to be removed and that job was given to one bold volunteer, who was dressed in an even bolder pair of trunks.

A man dressed in tight and colourful trunks pictured waving at fans after emerging from the Olympic swimming pool on Sunday morning at the Paris La Defense Arena

The 'Speedo hero' had jumped in to retrieve a cap that had fallen of one off the swimmers

He was in the water for less than 20 seconds but his short cameo was enjoyed by the crowd

Fans inside the Paris La Defense Arena cheered and whistled as the man, described as 'middle-aged' by witnesses via social media, strutted to the side of the pool.

He was in and out of the pool in under 20 seconds before more cheers were aimed in his direction as he waved to the fans in the stands.

As footage of his big moment went viral via X (formerly Twitter), the man was widely hailed as a 'hero'.

One viewer also commented: 'The crowd cheers as a middle-aged man disrobes to just a speedo and dives in to recover the cap. Words I thought I would not tweet this morning'.

Another wrote: 'Some guy in a Speedo just jumped into an olympic pool to retrieve a swimmers cap from the bottom of the pool. I want that job is 2028 @Olympics'.

Many people seemed to think that the 'Speedo hero' was an Olympic lifeguard, although it is understood that this was not the case.

It is believed that the cap had belonged to 20-year-old Team USA swimmer Emma Weber

Fans pictured applauding in the background as the man made his exit from the Olympic pool

Someone wrote on Reddit: 'The first time in history a lifeguard at the Olympics got something to do!'

A different Redditor added: 'The lifeguard's outfit was totally unexpected'.

However, a reply read: 'Not really. It's France lol.' 

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