We’ve reached the midway point of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and to no one’s surprise Bob the Cap Catcher, pommel horse guy, a shooter from Turkiye and Snoop Dogg have taken over the internet.
If you’ve been unplugged and need a refresher, or just can’t get enough of the wackiness that only an Olympics can bring, read on for a guide to the funniest, craziest and all-around best viral moments from the Games.
LeBron James is a deadringer for George Washington
The Paris Olympics wasted no time giving us prime meme material, starting with the unique floating Parade of Nations during the Opening Ceremony. LeBron James served as one of Team USA’s flag bearers, and as the rain started to pour down, James stood tall at the front of the boat. With the flag held high, he began to bear an uncanny resemblance to another figure in American history.
#FollowTheDogg
If you’ve tuned into the Olympics on NBC and Peacock you’ve definitely seen Snoop Dogg rocking a stylish red, white and blue ensemble. The legendary rapper has been all over Paris completing side quests, from carrying the Olympic torch and swimming with Michael Phelps to getting emotional during the national anthem and befriending Jordan Chiles‘ parents. He’s even made time to try his hand at sportscasting alongside Mike Tirico.
Flavor Flav hypes up Team USA
90’s kids stand up (and tune into water polo)! That’s because Flavor Flav has become the #1 fan of the U.S. women’s water polo team. The rapper has spent his summer supporting the U.S. women at all of their matches and even becoming one of the team’s financial sponsors. And the U.S. women’s water polo match against France surely had the most flavor in the history of the sport, as Flav was joined by the “mayor of Flavortown” himself, Guy Fieri.
SEE MORE: Flavor Flav and Guy Fieri cheer on US women’s water polo
Bob the Cap Catcher captures hearts
When a swimmer’s cap falls off during a race and is stuck at the bottom of the Olympic pool, there’s only one man that can save the day: Bob the Cap Catcher. When this dire situation struck in Paris, Bob sprang to the rescue. Allegedly an Olympic official, Bob appeared in his multicolor Speedo briefs and courageously dove to the bottom of the pool. He then rose to the surface, climbed out of the water, and triumphantly raised the swim cap into the air as he was showered with well-deserved cheers from the crowd. He’s not the hero the world asked for, but he’s surely the hero we needed.
SEE MORE: ‘Bob the Cap Catcher’ dives to the rescue in swimming pool
Is that Clark Kent or Stephen Nedoroscik?
Stephen Nedoroscik was named to the U.S. men’s gymnastics team for one reason: his extraordinary prowess on pommel horse. During the men’s team final, Nedoroscik’s signature event was scheduled for the sixth and final rotation. So he sat quietly on the sidelines, barely reacting to his teammate’s performance, and waited. For hours.
When his big moment finally arrived, the U.S. needed a near-flawless pommels performance from Nedoroscik to keep their medal hopes alive. So he stood up, removed his glasses, and delivered with the routine of his life to clinch the bronze medal for Team USA. He then became known as “pommel horse guy,” and possibly a superhero in disguise.
SEE MORE: Nedoroscik heroic on pommel horse to clinch bronze
Gabriel Medina breaks the internet with mind-blowing mid-air moment
With a thrilling competition and an iconic venue in Tahiti, surfing has gained many new fans since the Paris Olympics began. And credit also goes to Jermone Brouillet’s photograph of superstar surfer Gabriel Medina.
During Round 3 of the men’s competition in legendary Teahupo’o, Medina soared through an astonishing wave for the highest single-wave score in Olympic history, before popping high into the air off the lip and sticking up one finger in a No. 1 pose. Brouillet snapped a pic at the perfect moment, capturing Medina in midair as the Brazilian appears to be casually levitating. Unsurprisingly, the picture exploded on social media.
Ilona Maher. That’s it, just Ilona Maher
One of the earliest stars to emerge from these Games was Ilona Maher, who helped lead the U.S. women’s rugby team to the bronze medal in electric fashion. Maher has had viral moments on and off the field. From dishing out a ferocious stiff arm to hanging out with Philadelphia Eagles’ legend, and the newest fan of U.S. women’s rugby, Jason Kelce, it’d be hard to find an Olympian who’s had more fun in Paris that Maher. Oh, and Kelce even twinned with Maher’s family, sporting a custom Hawaiian shirt covered with Maher’s face on it.
SEE MORE: Ilona Maher’s stiff arm leaves an impression on Day 1
Wemby vs. Togashi
You’ve probably heard of Victor Wembanyama, the towering 2023 NBA No. 1 overall pick and reigning rookie of the year who is playing in the Games for the host nation. You probably have not heard of Yuki Togashi, a 5’4″ player on the Japanese basketball team. When France and Japan met for a group play game, fans got to see the matchup nobody even knew they wanted.
Turkiye’s coolest shooter
Arguments over who does and doesn’t have “aura” have swept across the internet this summer. Aura is a mystique that only certain people possess. It’s hard to fully define and more of a “you know it when you see it” type of trait.
Well, when you see Turkish shooter, Yusuf Dikec, everyone can agree that whatever aura is, he’s got it. The marksmen won the silver medal in the mixed team 10m air pistol event and did it in style (or lack thereof). While most of his competitors looked like Inspector Gadget, sporting futuristic glasses and other high-tech gear, Dikec looked like just a regular guy. The five-time Olympian simply pointed, aimed, and shot, while his other hand was casually sitting in his pocket. How does he do it?
“I am a natural shooter.”
SEE MORE: Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec puts on cool, calm performance
Do equestrian horses get their own Olympic medals?
This next moment is for all the animal lovers. After Japan’s equestrian team took home the bronze medal in team eventing, the country’s first equestrian medal in nearly a century, rider Yoshiaki Oiwa posed with his horse and his new hardware for the cutest moment of the Games.
And the answer is no, horses do not get their own Olympic medals. But the good news is that they probably don’t really care.
Katie Ledecky creates core memory for young fan
Per usual, Katie Ledecky left the other swimmers in her wake in the women’s 1500m freestyle, winning the event with a new Olympic record. There were the typical photos of Ledecky out to such a massive lead that the other competitors weren’t even in the camera’s frame, but the real viral moment came after the race. As Ledecky exited the pool, one young fan screamed for Ledecky’s attention and was rewarded with a wave.
SEE MORE: Young USA swim fan goes wild over Katie Ledecky
The stars shine bright in Paris
No matter what, the Olympics are a showcase of the world’s best athletes on the biggest stage. But at the last two Games, the venues were sadly empty of fans… and celebrity superfans.
In Paris, the stands are packed and the stars are out. Here’s a sample of the biggest names who have come to the City of Love to show their amour for Team USA.
Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman
Jessica Chastain
Natalie Portman
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden
Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Anna Wintour
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