Since retiring from the sport of competitive swimming, 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps has been all over the pop culture scene, appearing on TV shows ‘America’s Got Talent’ and ‘Lip Sync Battle’. On a more serious note, he also testified before the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee about clean sport earlier this year.
The GOAT’s presence will be felt yet again, but this time back in the realm which made him famous – the water – as the 5-time Olympian is set to appear on Discovery network’s ‘Shark Week’ this summer. Although no details on exactly what Phelps will be doing on the show are not yet known, Discovery President Rich Ross said today that he’s ‘intrigued about seeing the fastest human swimmer interact with nature’s fastest.’
“Perhaps Phelps can be encouraged to go underwater in a shark cage,” said Ross.
31-year-old Phelps is a fan of Shark Week, as evidenced by a tweet from back in 2013 when he said his ‘night was set up’ by watching the Discovery Channel’s most successful series.
Hmmmm #sharkweek #voodoosharks my night is set up!!
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) August 6, 2013
Appearing on Shark Week also wouldn’t be the first time a shark cage and Michael Phelps would be included in the same sentence, as he and South African rival Chad Le Clos actually discussed Great White shark diving after the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
In a post-2012 Olympic interview, Phelps told NBC’s Bob Costas, “I’ve always wanted to dive with great whites. Sharks are one of my favorite animals in the world!”
We’ll report as soon as more details about Phelps’ #SharkWeek appearance are known, but in the meantime, remind yourself how much alike we swimmers are to these lethal creatures here.
Cool
Spoilers…………..no.