Michael Phelps to race great white shark for Discovery Channel’s ‘Shark Week’
The world's most decorated athlete takes on one of the fastest and most efficient predators on the planet.
Sharks are one of the fastest and most efficient predators on the planet. Michael Phelps is the most decorated athlete and swimmer in the world. But can such a man possibly take on a shark? The answer is no, probably not. But why not give it a go? That’s what Discovery Channel thought anyway.
Shark Week
One of Discovery Channel’s most successful nature programs Shark Week is returning in July. Celebrating its 29th anniversary, the programme promises “groundbreaking shark stories” and “compelling insight on some of the most unique shark species in the world”. Likewise, it’s the first time in the franchise’s history that the programme will be aired during the same week across the world.
On 23 July, Phelps vs. Shark will be aired which shows the 28-time Olympic medallist racing a great white shark. It’s unclear how the race will be set, and where it will take place. But Phelps hinted at the use of a shark cage in his recent Instagram post:
I was able to do something that I had always wanted to do. Be in a cage and dive with great White sharks.
Photo: Michael Phelps/Instagram
Regarding the set up of the event, Tooni Mahto from the Australian Marine Conservation Society told BBC Radio 5 live:
We can all be fairly certain it’s not going to be Michael Phelps versus a great white shark in an Olympic-size swimming pool…I’m assuming it’s going to be looking at the human body in water compared to a creature that’s evolved over millions of years and is perfectly adapted to its marine environment.
So whether Phelps will be in the water or not hasn’t been confirmed. But given the fact that great whites can reach speeds up to 25mph, and Phelps’ top speed is around 6 mph, is there really a contest?
Featured image of Michael Phelps and great white shark. Photo: Creative Commons and Creative Commons.
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Why are they racing?
If a great white shark can swim 25MPH and Michael Phelps only 6MPH at best..
Oh god I have lost hope for humanity again..
Oh, but Steemit brought it back!
Not sure @capitalpink - will probably be Phelps racing a virtual shark with some kind of handicap, I guess. Should be fun to watch though, and will hopefully raise awareness for shark safety and conservation.
He will race a retarded Shark most likely.
Because I heard retarded sharks only travel 4MPH. Google it.
(don't google it though)
Haha - well, I'll be rooting for the underdog. So, if it's a 4MPH shark...go shark :D