Fans Loved Ireland Women’s Rugby’s Ridiculous Catch in Olympics: ‘Better than OBJ’

Kristen Wong | Jul 31, 2024

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The simple beauty of the Olympic games is that it gives the average viewer a rare chance to watch a sport that otherwise isn’t broadcast or popularized within their home country. Ireland women’s rugby’s match against Great Britain on Tuesday did just that, and offered so much more. 

The Ireland women’s rugby sevens team lost to Great Britain, 28-12, in the 7th/8th-place playoff match at the Stade de France and fell well short of the podium in the Paris Games this summer. Though the team won’t take home any silverware, they’ll carry with them a frame-it-in-the-Louvre moment that will live in Olympic history forever. 

Ireland’s Emily Lane and Erin King have since gone viral for an unbelievable catch that many fans have compared to NFL wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s famous grab. 

On a British kick-off, Lane leapt to make a catch while being supported by King. King lifted Lane by her hips, reverse Dirty Dancing style, until she was nearly parallel to the ground as Lane reached up and miraculously secured the ball with both her hands.

This is absolutely insane. pic.twitter.com/UQYnd3Mh96

— QUAN (@QuannyNitro) July 30, 2024

Here’s a longer clip of the catch:

I found a longer version of the clip: pic.twitter.com/YDeGrrrWEZ

— ً (@tylerduran21) July 31, 2024

ESPN also posted a series of stunning photos to document the wild moment:

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Fans far and wide marveled at the feat, which required an absurd amount of strength and athleticism.

Damn 11 strong 💪🏽💪🏽

— ▪️🅚🅰️Ⓜ️▫️ (@_allnmyhead) July 31, 2024

That strength to maintain your grip is crazyyyy 🤯

— Juvany Georges (@juvanygeorges) July 31, 2024

This is better than the OBJ catch

— Frank K (@Frankkly38) July 31, 2024

My lower back hurts just watching this

— Mariano_Bets (@MarianoCroce_) July 31, 2024

I’m putting my daughter into rugby this is impressive

— Britton Winterrose (@bwinterrose) July 31, 2024

Good Lawd. That's a linebacker if I have ever seen one.

— RickyBooby (@RickyBoobyAU) July 31, 2024

When I see this kind of stuff I feel like I should be able to hit a golf ball

— Walter (@LongBeachBum) July 31, 2024

I love, love, love that my insta and twitter feed has just become people discovering Ilona Maher, women's rugby or even just rugby all together over the last few days.

It is the game they play in heaven for a reason 😇 #RugbySevens https://t.co/36LcLo6p8z

— Brittany Mitchell (@BrittMitchell11) July 31, 2024