Michael Phelps will race a great white shark for Discovery Channel

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Michael Phelps holds the record for the most Olympic medals ever in addition to 39 world records. He married the love of his life and fathered Boomer the Wunderkin. He established the Michael Phelps Foundation. So what’s next on Michael’s agenda? Apparently to lose his damn mind! In support of the Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week, Michael is going to race a Great White Shark. I hope he means on bicycles.

His greatest rival yet! The most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, will be racing a great white shark for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.

The Discovery Channel announced in a press release on Thursday, June 15, that the 31-year-old swimmer, who holds 39 world records, will race the predator in a race titled “Phelps vs. Shark: Great Gold vs Great White.” According to Discovery, the event “is so monumental that no one has attempted it before.”

Phelps vs. Shark airs Sunday, July 23, at 8 p.m. E.T. on Discovery. Shark Week kicks off an hour earlier at 7 p.m. E.T.

[From US]

Dude, even the shark is asking, “why?” Actually, no she isn’t because her mouth is too full of the Olympian she just ate. They, Discovery, Michael and anyone else attached to this event, are giving up no details beyond the date and time of broadcast. We assume there will be a partition between the two. We assume this will be carefully controlled and no one, neither shark or Boomer’s dad, will in any way get hurt. But then we assumed Michael knew better than to jump into the ocean with a ferocious predator and we were wrong about that so who knows? It’s not like Shark Week isn’t anxiety-inducing enough, we don’t need to feed them well-known athletes to boot.

At least he was sportsmanlike enough to introduce himself to his opponent before the match:

We do know that there will be several people there to watch Phelps become supper, er, I mean, assist with the race:

What a trip!!! Dream come true. Thanks y'all!!!

A post shared by Michael Phelps (@m_phelps00) on

The LA Times is presently running pleas from local lifeguards asking people to stop chumming the waters with fish guts because our surfers are getting bit. Now I expect a headline saying, “Don’t Chum the Waters with Michael Phelps Either.” Oh my gosh – his mother Debbie must be catatonic over this.

Whatever is going to happen, it’s happening late July. Since it’s already been announced and publicized, we won’t be able to talk him out of this. I guess this puts the talk of Tokyo 2020 to bed, since his bifurcation will probably disqualify him.

All of that said, and as much as I like Michael, I really hope the shark wins. A racing Great White is a beautiful thing to witness – albeit, as long as it’s not below and heading towards you.

Oh, and Happy Monday:

Daddy day!!! @m_phelps00 📸@boonestudios

A post shared by boomer phelps (@boomerrphelps) on

Like father like son?

I hope my bday cakes are always this cool!!!!! @heartsweetcakes

A post shared by boomer phelps (@boomerrphelps) on

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Photo credit: Instagram and WENN Photos

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16 Responses to “Michael Phelps will race a great white shark for Discovery Channel”

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  1. susanne says:

    Future Darwin award winner.

  2. Lucy says:

    That picture of him with his baby boy? Swoon!!! Also, LOL at the “Dude, even the shark is asking, “why?” bit.

  3. The jumping the shark jokes write themselves. To make it fair the shark should be drunk too.

  4. Sullivan says:

    He’s jumping the shark with this stunt.
    The kid is a cutie.

  5. Tiffany says:

    Not gonna lie, I will watch it.

  6. Nimbolicious says:

    Who’s he racing, Robert Herjavec?

  7. Susie says:

    I’m so watching this.

  8. TyrantDestroyed says:

    I wanted to make a joke about the shark race and then I saw the photo with the baby… Damn hormones, is beyond cute and the baby is beautiful. He looks very much like his mother.

  9. Megan says:

    Ugh, does this really need to happen? Great Whites are in steep decline. Harassing them for TV ratings just seems wrong to me.

    • elle says:

      That’s what bug me most about this… I’m sure the shark didn’t approach the discovery channel with an idea. Leave the damn thing alone. Race a mechanical shark if you need attention/ratings.

  10. justcrimmles says:

    His Olympic rings tattoo looks poorly done. Everything else has already been said 🙃

    • Ange says:

      I’ve never seen one that looks good. I know a bunch of Olympians and the rings always look weird, like there’s one shitty template going around out there and every tattoo artist in the world is using it.

  11. Natalie Davis says:

    Ummm….I love love love Shark Week but Discovery Channel always does stunts like this. They sensationalize a story that turns out to be nothing like they promoted. It will probably be something like a GW can swim this distance in this time, can MP beat it. He probably wont be anywhere near GW when he’s doing it. Just think to all those Bigfoot and river monster shows they spend an hour telling only to find out its some mangy bear or dead bloated fish. Just saying Im pretty sure MP isnt goning to physically racing any GW. Of course if Im wrong, that would be pretty badas*!!

    • Nicole says:

      Thank you!!! Usually the commenters here are smart but I can’t believe how many think he’s going to physically race a shark. A great white can reach speeds up to 25 mph, a human can not. Plus you can’t train a shark, how are you going to make it race? This program will probably be all about the anatomy of the shark and bringing Phelps to see them close up, while educating him on the sharks. And then have him beat a time.

  12. Jag says:

    I think it’s awful. Sharks are not playthings.

    If he cared about quickness, he would be racing a shortfin mako shark.

    But if he really wanted to impress me, he’d be racing a black marlin or sailfish.