Michael Phelps. / AFP PHOTO / François-Xavier MARIT
The much-anticipated showdown between the world’s most decorated swimmer, Michael Phelps, and perhaps the ocean’s fiercest predator, the Great White Shark, went down over the weekend.
READ: Olympian Michael Phelps set to race against Great White Shark
Billed as “The Great Gold vs. The Great White” by the Discovery Channel ahead of “Shark Week,” Phelps showcased a valiant effort, but fell short of his hope to win the made-for-television race against the dreaded beast.
According to Bleacher Report, the unnamed shark bested the 32-year-old Phelps by a mere 2 seconds, finishing the open ocean course in 36.1 seconds, against the Olympian’s 38.1.
Meanwhile, the 23-time gold medalist, who’s not used to coming in second place in swimming races, is already itching for a rematch.
“Rematch? Next time..warmer water,” he wrote on Twitter.
Rematch? Next time..warmer water. #SW30 @Discovery @SharkWeek
— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) July 24, 2017
Disappointed fans
Meanwhile, viewers expressed their disappointment with the race—not because Phelps lost—but due to the fact that most were expecting the two competitors to swim side-by-side in a pool of some sort.
Instead, both the shark and Phelps took turns swimming for 100 meters at different times, even as Discovery imposed an image of the shark on the other side of Phelps to give the appearance of an actual swimming competition.
Call me crazy but I thought they were gonna put Phelps up against a real shark not a simulation. I feel robbed. #SharkWeek #PhelpsVsShark pic.twitter.com/XgdEphkl6m
— Meg Conley (@MegDownSouth) July 24, 2017
America’s collective disappointment when we realized that #PhelpsVsShark is all just science and simulations: pic.twitter.com/bTww7dAWm3
— Lindsey Barr (@simply_lindsey) July 24, 2017
Both of my girls have left the room. Disappointed Phelps isn’t side-by-side w/great white. #PhelpsVsShark #SharkWeek @Discovery
— T.J. Holmes (@tjholmes) July 24, 2017
Several divers were also around during Phelps’ run, to ensure his safety considering he was swimming in shark-infested waters off the coast of South Africa. Khristian Ibarrola /ra