Olympic Legend Michael Phelps Is Going To Race A Great White Shark

No, you didn't read the headline wrong - Michael Phelps really is going to race a Great White Shark as part of the Discovery Channel's 'Shark Week'.

After becoming the most decorated Olympian of all-time, and essentially conquering all of the humans that posed him any sort of real threat, Phelps has obviously moved onto the animal kingdom, and is bidding to prove he can out-swim one nature's most terrifying and most powerful beasts.

_{Phelps is pretty good in the water but you know generally that's where sharks live! Image: PA}

According to the Washington Post, it's still not entirely clear what the rules for such an unprecedented competition will be, but the amazing feat is set to be aired in late July.

In the announcement by the cable channel about this rather unique test of physicality and sporting prowess they merely said, "They are one of the fastest and most efficient predators on the planet: Sharks. He is our greatest champion to ever get in the water: Michael Phelps. 39 world records. 23 Olympic golds.

"But he has one competition left to win. An event so monumental no one has ever attempted it before. The world's most decorated athlete takes on the ocean's most efficient predator: Phelps V Shark - the race is on!"

_{"Ahh you think the water is your ally? You merely adopted the water. I was born in it, molded by it."}

Lets just hope there's enough separating the two lanes, eh.

Will it be a free-style swim, and do we even know if the Shark will get any enjoyment out of this? The last thing we'd want is for the poor animal to be scared.

_{Phelps versus shark, who've you got? Image: PA}

Discovery claim that the Olympian will learn "how to stay calm when a hammerhead swims two feet above his face." Based on his Instagram post it looks like he's already got pretty close:

What do you think of the race? Ridiculous or amazing?

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Topics: olympics, Michael Phelps, swimming

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