In a summercater where every msec number , you probably do n’t need to be burdened with a single ounce of unnecessary wearing apparel . That ’s why swimmer prefer for Speedos , not consignment drawers , and lean to knock off their consistency hair’s-breadth to reduce puff .
But that minimal art normally has one exclusion : Many jock opt for two swimming caps .
agree toQuartz , that ’s because each cap meets a different need . An inner capital made of latex forms snugly with the head but can crinkle when expose to piddle and effort , make electrical resistance . To compensate , athletes summate a silicone cap as an KO’d protective layer . Combined , the caps also ensure goggle strap to the head .
So why not just wear silicone by itself ? Because it tend toslip offwhen fitted directly onto the scalp . And while swimmers are unremarkably meticulous about shave their bodies , hum their hair probably would n’t be preferred : A stubble - ridden domed stadium is improbable to reduce retarding force more than a slick silicone membrane .
Such a practice would also divest the internet ofBob the Cap Catcher , a heretofore anon. worker at the Olympic swimming venue for theSummer Gamesin Paris . It reverse out that the silicone polymer crownwork can sometimes dislocate off swimmers ’ chief even when assume over a latex crownwork . When American swimmer Emma Weber lose her cap during the 100 - meter breaststroke , “ Bob ” dove in and retrieve it while the crowd spat and video footage of the act went viral . It ’s unclear if our submarine with the dad form and tiny trunks is a professional cap backstop or merely an enthusiastic lover who was in the right place at the right time .
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A interpretation of this story was published in 2016 ; it has been updated for 2024 .
