Buzz
In a sport where every fraction of a second is vital, athletes want to avoid any unnecessary bulk. That’s why they choose Speedos over cargo pants and often shave body hair to reduce drag.
However, this minimalist approach typically has one exception: many swimmers choose to wear two caps.
According to Quartz, the reason is simple: each cap serves a distinct purpose. The inner latex cap fits tightly to the head but can wrinkle when exposed to water and movement, causing resistance. To counter this, swimmers add a silicone cap on top for extra protection. The combination also helps keep goggle straps securely in place.
Why not just use a silicone cap alone? The problem is that it tends to slip off when placed directly on the scalp. And while swimmers are careful to shave their bodies, shaving their hair might not be the best solution: a stubbly head is unlikely to reduce drag more effectively than a smooth silicone layer.
This practice also prevents the internet from having Bob the Cap Catcher, an otherwise anonymous individual working at the Olympic swimming venue for the Summer Games in Paris. It turns out that silicone caps sometimes slide off even when worn over latex ones. When American swimmer Emma Weber lost her cap during the 100-meter breaststroke, “Bob” dove in, retrieved it, and became a viral sensation as the crowd cheered. Whether this dad-bod hero in tiny trunks is a professional cap catcher or just a lucky fan remains a mystery.
