Social media has been abuzz with content claiming to have uncovered “the most useless job” at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
With the event now underway, certain accounts have highlighted the lifeguards at the swimming competitions, suggesting that they won’t be needed given that all of the competitors are professional swimmers and are unlikely to need saving.
You can see some of them below:
If you feel useless today, just remember somebody is working as a lifeguard at the #Olympics pic.twitter.com/Fs5VbCRTry
— Today Years Old (@todayyearsoldig) July 30, 2024
I guess you never know 😅#olympics #lifeguard #swimming #pool #olympicsswimming #swimmer #paris
Via / Kate|Workingmom TT / @athletiverse pic.twitter.com/DHK1ex0kDW
— Hockey Patrol (@HockeyPatrol) July 28, 2024
“So basically they’re getting paid to watch the Olympics,” a user observed.
“Imagine not working but still getting paid,” another wrote.
“these people are immune to drowning,” said a third.
“Best view in the house,” a fourth noted.
“I still feel more useless,” someone admitted.
Others, however, correctly pointed out that there could be extreme circumstances in which swimmers might need assistance.
“Cramps & heart attacks still exist 🤦🏻♂️,” one stated.
“Heart attacks and cramps happen tho,” another wrote.
The Olympic Games Shouldn’t Be Exempt From Safety Officials
There have been instances of swimmers needing to be saved at competitions. One such case occurred during the World Aquatics Championships in 2022, with American artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez losing consciousness while finishing her routine in the solo free final.
There were lifeguards on hand, but Team USA coach Andrea Fuentes needed to dive into the water to save the swimmer as they all froze.
“I saw that the lifeguards were not jumping into the water because they were paralyzed. I was shouting at them from the other side to get into the water, now! I saw them looking dumbfounded, so I jumped into the water and straight towards her,” Fuentes said, per El Pais.
“I saw how she was sinking and I swam as fast as I could. I did the fastest freedive of my life, faster than when I was preparing for the Olympics.”
