Paris Olympics 2024: Unlikely hero whips swimming arena into a frenzy in bizarre scenes
The Olympic pool was graced by the unlikeliest of heroes on the second day of swimming in Paris.
La Defense Arena erupted into cheers as an Olympic production crew member was forced to strip to his underwear and dive into the pool, all to rescue a swim cap.
The bizarre spectacle halted the program for a few moments, but the crowd fed into the man’s efforts, whistling and howling as the middle-aged man stripped down on the pool deck.
Meanwhile, Aussie superstars Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan cruised through their 200m freestyle heats.
O’Callaghan hit the pool in the third heat and paced her race to the last moment before surging in the final 25 metres to touch the wall a good half-body length ahead of the pack.
After defending her 400-metre freestyle gold in an incredible swim on the opening day of competition, Titmus took her 200m heat very easy, doing everything she needed to do to qualify for the semifinal.
O’Callaghan topped the heats time sheet with Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey second and Titmus third.
It leaves the Aussie pair on a mouthwatering collision course in the final, after they both broke the world record in the Australian team qualifying event held in Brisbane just months ago.
In other pool sports, European champions Spain have proved too strong for the Aussies, beating the Sharks 9-5 in men’s Olympic water polo.
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