In Rio, even Olympic swimmers need lifeguards

The expression on this Olympic lifeguard's face just about sums up what we're all thinking about her job making sure the world's best swimmers successfully, well, swim:
Yes, even swimmers who have qualified for the Olympics need lifeguard supervision, per a Rio de Janeiro state law that mandates a lifeguard be present at any pool bigger than 20 by 20 feet, The New York Times reported.
All in all, the Rio Olympics has about 75 lifeguards on hand to supervise water sports, including "diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, and white-water kayaking" in addition to swimming events, The Washington Post reported. While lifeguards could very well come in handy in some of those events, like water polo or kayaking, where there is a bit more of a risk for injury, even Olympic lifeguards can't help but poke fun at their job — and the thought that they could be tasked with rescuing 19-time gold medal-winner Michael Phelps from the pool. "We joked to each other, 'We're here to save him!'" said Danielle Martelote, the lifeguard supervisor at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. "But we hope and expect that all the athletes will be fine."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Should you add your child to your credit card?
The Explainer You can make them an authorized user on your account in order to help them build credit
-
Cracker Barrel crackup: How the culture wars are upending corporate branding
In the Spotlight Is it 'woke' to leave nostalgia behind?
-
'It's hard to discern what it actually means'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Florida erases rainbow crosswalk at Pulse nightclub
Speed Read The colorful crosswalk was outside the former LGBTQ nightclub where 49 people were killed in a 2016 shooting
-
Trump says Smithsonian too focused on slavery's ills
Speed Read The president would prefer the museum to highlight 'success,' 'brightness' and 'the future'
-
Trump to host Kennedy Honors for Kiss, Stallone
Speed Read Actor Sylvester Stallone and the glam-rock band Kiss were among those named as this year's inductees
-
White House seeks to bend Smithsonian to Trump's view
Speed Read The Smithsonian Institution's 21 museums are under review to ensure their content aligns with the president's interpretation of American history
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play