Ranking the 10 best Olympic memes (so far) (2024)

Are you more of a Pommel Horse Guy or a Katie Ledecky Girl?

The Paris Olympics have been pumping out memes faster than Sha'Carri Richardson can run 100 meters, with seemingly every day forging a new internet hero.

From Team USA gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik to human meme factory and NBC Olympics special correspondent Snoop Dogg, we can't get enough.

So let's rank the Top 10 memes, shall we?*

Between the stylish Richardson running this weekend, the new sport of breaking making its debut next week and the continued Snoop-ness of Snoop, we reserve the right to update this list with more ridiculous images before the Olympics wrap up on Aug. 11.

10. Bob the Cap Catcher

A big thing with Olympic memes is you don't want to peak too early, but "Bob the Cap Catcher" wasn't focused on becoming the first viral figure of the Games.

He was focused on doing his job. In a bright, floral Speedo, as one does.

When Team USA swimmer Emma Weber lost her swim cap in a preliminary race on July 28, a man later identified as a lifeguard sauntered over, dove to the bottom of the pool, fished it out and triumphantly waved it over his head as the crowd cheered. He was soon dubbed "Bob the Cap Catcher."

Good hustle, Bob, and we thank you for your service.

9. Fencer Lauren Scruggs is not quite sure what just happened

We always love a good reaction shot after winning gold, and fencer Lauren Scruggs gave a classic one on Aug. 1.

After she scored the winning point to seal the first gold medal in history for the U.S. women's foil fencing team, Scruggs ripped off her mask in complete disbelief.

Scruggs looked like she thought she was going to fail a test and the teacher just told her she got an “A.”

A gold medal? Me?

She shouldn't be surprised, as the 21-year-old Harvard senior has been a breakout star in Paris, also winning a silver medal and paving the way for Black American women in fencing.

8. General LeBron James leading the way across the Seine River

The Americans are coming!

Basketball legend LeBron James took his flagbearer duty seriously at the opening ceremony, clutching tight to the stars and stripes in the pouring rain. He took a spot at the front of the ship that transported Team USA down the Seine in Paris.

The image of James standing in front of his teammates with the flag had fans immediately comparing it to the famous 1849 painting of George Washington leading his troops in a boat across the Delaware River in 1776 to fight a Revolutionary War battle in Trenton, New Jersey.

"General LeBron James crossing the Delaware," NBC affiliate reporter Drea Blackwell wrote in a viral tweet.

James has since moved on to winning basketball games and mortifying his daughter.

7. The "muffins guy" and the gymnast getting cheese

Are they athletes or food influencers?

Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen has drawn more attention for his obsession with the chocolate muffins in the Olympic village than his 800-meter times.

Meanwhile, Italian gymnast Giorgia Villa has gone viral for posing with giant wheels of cheese from a sponsorship with Parmigiano-Reggiano. Whether you need a cartwheel or a cheese wheel, Villa's got you covered.

She also helped lead Italy to the silver medal in the team competition, its first in that category since 1928.

Villa and Christiansen appear to be some of the only ones enjoying the food in Paris. Simone Biles has some thoughts.

6. Turkish Olympic sharpshooter wins medal while looking like a dad at an arcade

If you're a shooting athlete at these Games and you haven't gone viral yet, why are you even in Paris?

Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec became the latest one on Aug. 1 when he showed that you don't need fancy stuff like protective glasses and ear protectors to fire off winning shots.

Looking like a dad killing time at the arcade while the kids run around, Dikec, 51, calmly stepped up and shot his team to a silver medal in the 10-meter air pistol event with one hand in his pocket.

Compared to his competitors and all their accoutrements, Dikec took more of a Wyatt Earp approach.

“I did not need the special equipment. I’m a natural, natural shooter,” Dikec told Turkish media, according toNBC News.

5. A young girl goes through all the emotions watching Katie Ledecky win historic gold

Sometimes we take Katie Ledecky's greatness for granted, but not this little girl.

The legendary Team USA swimmer dusted the field in the 1500-meter freestyle to win gold on July 31, winning by so much that the other competitors weren't even on the TV screen at the finish.

A little girl in the stands cheered her the whole way, and then officially had her life made when Ledecky waved at her following her win.

The girl pretended to faint and sat down with her mouth agape. Considering Ledecky now has more Olympic medals than any female American athlete in history, we get it!

We also look forward to this girl winning the 1500 freestyle at the 2036 Olympics.

4. Rugby star Ilona Maher runs over everyone in her way

Ilona Maher has stiff-armed opponents and online trolls on her way to being a breakout star in Paris.

The rugby sevens standout first drew attention when she absolutely trucked a defender with a stiff arm while running with the ball on a try attempt in a game on July 28.

The stiff arm move even had its foremost practitioner, Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, appreciating Maher's ferocity.

"Oh yeah," Henry said in a video shared by Ravens. "She got it."

Maher was also brushing off bullies on TikTok, educating people about body mass index and sharing her pride in her muscles.

She helped Team USA win bronze for its first medal in women's rugby sevens history, which came after another insane highlight provided by teammate Alex Sedrick.

3. South Korea shooter Kim Yeji is a whole vibe

Have you ever looked as cool doing anything as South Korea's Kim Yeji does while competing in shooting?

The glasses, the white cap, the black uniform, and the effortless performance on her way to a silver medal in the 10-meter air pistol event had one X user calling a photo of her "the most aura I have ever seen in an image."

Cast her in a "Matrix" spin-off movie immediately.

2. Snoop Dogg reacting to Simone Biles winning gold and generally being Snoop

Snoop Dogg has taken over Paris with his Martha Stewart-approved, show-stopping outfits, hilarious commentary, laid-back Cali vibes and genuine reactions to athletic greatness.

One day he's carrying the Olympic torch, the next he's swimming with Michael Phelps.

His sunglasses-raising, incredulous look while watching gymnastics superstar Simone Biles compete on July 28 became an instant meme.

And there's still another week to go! We are here for it all.

1. Pommel Horse Guy

He had one job. But first, he had to get in the zone.

The sight of Team USA gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik taking a moment alone with his eyes closed and his glasses on ahead of the men's gymnastics team competition on July 29 became an instant hit online. Like Clark Kent, he took off the glasses and turned into Superman.

Nedoroscik was in Paris strictly to compete on the pommel horse only, and he delivered a performance that led Team USA to their first medal in 16 years.

The Rubik’s cube-solving athletewears his glasses due to a condition that leaves him sensitive to light and causes other vision issues.

We learned on TODAY that he also may possibly be a Jedi because he performs his pommel horse routine without his glasses even though he can barely see.

"It’s all in the hands — I can feel everything," he said.

And that's how you become an Olympic legend.

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This article was originally published on TODAY.com