Skip in Skip x Embed x Share CLOSE Michael Phelps races fake shark, loses to fake shark and Twitter gets upset. USA TODAY Sports
FILe - In this Aug. 28, 2016 file photo, Michael Phelps poses in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York. Phelps is participating in Discovery network's Shark Week this summer. The week of shark-themed programming in mid-summer is annually Discovery's biggest event. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) (Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Michael Phelps’ much-anticipated race against a shark was never going to be against a real great white shark. It was against a computer-generated simulation of a shark.
The fake shark won, beating the the 23-time Olympic gold medalist by two seconds in Sunday’s Phelps vs. Shark on Discovery.
But given an hour of buildup, studies and special wetsuits, fans actually hoped to see Phelps race a shark — a real shark — as he would against a human competitor.
That didn’t happen, and fans were not pleased.
Michael Phelps not racing a real shark is like being sold Kanye tickets and then watching a Kanye hologram perform — Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) July 24, 2017
When you find out Phelps not racing a real shark. #SharkWeekpic.twitter.com/COeF8G7ZL7 — DKT (@darleneturner53) July 24, 2017
Me pretending to be ok with Michael Phelps not racing a real shark pic.twitter.com/QnCF98NfBB — Gabi Palamone (@Yo_Gabi_Gabi__) July 24, 2017
WE WANTED TO SEE PHELPS RACING NEXT TO A REAL SHARK. WE WERE ALL TRICKED. #SharkWeekpic.twitter.com/CrNKk0x49I — Brittany (@KickinitwithB) July 24, 2017
So it turns out Michael Phelps is only racing a simulation of a shark. If he wins, next week he goes up against Mario Kart. #SharkWeek — T.R. Morley (@TheRealMorley) July 24, 2017
Me after finding out that Phelps is racing a cgi shark instead of a real one pic.twitter.com/KGo0D1TN9u — danny phantom (@teainmyeye) July 24, 2017
The entire world thought it was going to be a real shark. I feel robbed. #SharkWeekpic.twitter.com/iwtSGCBybd — Dana Cat (@DanaCatM) July 24, 2017
So Michael Phelps didn't actually even race a real shark. He raced a simulated one. One hour of life gone just like that. — Jamie McCracken (@jamieamccracken) July 24, 2017
That was an hour that some people will never get back.
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TheSawManCometh on July 24th, 2017 at 13:28 UTC »
I think if a shark knew wtf a race was, they would pop the clutch about 3 tail strokes in and be a blur on the TV screen.
jrexicus on July 24th, 2017 at 13:13 UTC »
Since the shark wasn't really there, he didn't really lose by 2 seconds, the shark forfeited
LissRee on July 24th, 2017 at 08:24 UTC »
Watch bait.