Day 1 of the Discovery network’s annual ‘Shark Week’ kicks off on Sunday, July 23rd and by now we’re all aware that the most decorated Olympian of all-time, swimmer Michael Phelps, is headlining opening night.
Entitled ‘Great Gold vs Great White’, 32-year-old Phelps is set to race against the ocean’s fiercest competitor in a battle for ocean supremacy. The trailer for the broadcast builds up the drama and hype, but former Olympic teammate Ryan Lochte isn’t buying it. When asked by TMZ over the weekend if the 2nd most decorated Olympic swimmer thinks Phelps has a chance against Carcharodon carcharias, Lochte said, “Hell no.”
As for what will transpire during Sunday’s broadcast, Phelps teased to Yahoo TV that “We were off the tip of Cape Town in South Africa and set up, almost, a lane where I was able to swim in a straight line. We were in open water, but we did not have a shark literally next to me swimming.”
With filming of the Phelps segments having been wrapped up last month, at least we know the GOAT lives!
And, you know, there’s the whole issue of the shark not knowing that it is in a race. The only way I endorse this segment is if for the entire duration of the episode there is text at the bottom of the screen that says “Disclaimer: shark does not know that it is racing. Because it is a shark.”
Ok theo, first comments way too serious..it’s shark week not NOVA on pbs…but this last disclaimer -funny’all is forgiven.
Great Whites can hit way over 20 mph in short bursts… 25mph at least. Dressel hits like 5 mph in his 50 free not counting the start. This is an insult to sharks everywhere!!!!! Might still be fun to watch though. They could do something hokey like what was done with Shaq when they had him swim a 75 to Michael’s 100 (or something like that, I forget). But the sheer titling of a human-vs-white-shark episode is spreading misinformation about sharks by presenting it as an even remotely close race. Still better than the other fear-mongering nonsense that pervades shark week though
Is MP going to swim with monofins?
Yes
Race the shark backstroke – when sharks turn upside down they go to sleep.
Off topic, but Andrew Porter got his year back. ASU is gonna be a force this upcoming year.
Rumor has is that the shark was DQ’d for wearing an illegal full body suit.
It*
The shark might be quick, but can it compare to Phelps’ underwaters?
Yeah but only like ten times faster
Of course he’s not going to be able to beat a shark. Phelps isn’t even training anymore. I could probably beat Phelps now…lol.. ok just a joke, just a joke.
Right now I would bet he could still go faster than most highschoolers.
I bet Phelps could time trial a 53- fly next week.