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Michael Phelps Reveals Exactly Why He Wanted To Race A Shark

Michael Phelps Reveals Exactly Why He Wanted To Race A Shark

Self-confessed shark nerd explains all

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

A couple of weeks back, the world's most decorated Olympian, Michael Phelps, casually dropped the news that he was going to race a shark.

The American, who won 23 gold medals in the pool over five Olympic Games, took on the challenge as part of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel.

As millions watched on Monday, there was a sense of disappointment from some.

Not only did Phelps get beaten by two seconds in the 100m race, viewers also accused him of not racing a shark at all - it later emerged that the Olympian's opponent was a simulated CGI great white and not a real one. Although, the point here was about the challenge itself rather than racing a real shark.

He's now responded to the criticism and said: "Everybody wants to try to pick on something, or say something or complain about something.

"I had fun racing a shark and seeing those animals up-close and personal. You aren't going to get the shark to swim in a straight line - and it would be interesting to see. We'll leave it at that.

"You can believe whatever you want. Everything was either presented on-air during multiple interviews that I did throughout Shark Week or the beginning of the show. Sorry you feel that way. For me, this is something I've always wanted to do and I was honored to be able to do it. I'm sorry that you feel that way, I feel very different.

"Some people just decide not to listen to some of the things that we do and that's not my fault that you don't do that. It's pretty easy to open up your ears and listen to either what the TV is saying, what announcers are saying or what I'm saying in interviews."

Fair play.

Phelps had previously explained to LADbible, exactly why he chose to race and swim with sharks.

He said"I've had a fascination with sharks my whole life. It's a bucket list item, and when I had the opportunity to do this and be part of Shark Week, it was a no-brainer.

"My agent told me about it and I said, 'Yes, yes, yes'."

Credit: PA

The Dream

As the 32-year-old stood on a podium on August 14, 2016, he kissed the gold that would be his 23rd and final medal at an Olympic Games - his 28th medal at the event. You'd have thought that would have been enough to complete anyone's 'dream'.

But, for a man who could only really be described as a 'human shark', Phelps has been fascinated by the creatures all his life.

"I am probably one of the biggest nerds on sharks," he said. "For me, it's a dream come true.

"When I had the chance to get in the water, whether it was with a great white, or a Hammer, I was the first to put my hand up.

"I know more stats about sharks and whales that will blow your mind, it really fascinates me. This is just scratching the surface of the opportunity I have to learn about different species."

He's right. Phelps explained that there are more than 500 species of shark in the world - with him getting the chance to swim with around seven of them.

Why Do It?

Shark Week is now 29 years old. For seven days each July, the Discovery Channel runs a series of shark-based programmes, which are aimed at increasing our knowledge of the mega-sized fish.

"Shark Week is something that I watch every single year," explained Phelps. "This time of year is usually when we are going into a major competition, it was very relaxing and calming to watch sharks.

"It fascinates me that the globe is covered by 70 percent water and, yet, we don't really know much about what is down there. That fascinates me more than anyone else."

Credit: Discovery Channel

Phelps, who features in several of the programmes, described how he was mesmerised by the vastness of the ocean. The deepest, and largely unexplored, Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean lies almost seven miles below sea level.

"For me, my whole life has been in water, and water is a very important part of my life," said Phelps. "To see these animals that we have in the ocean was such a treat.

"Sharks get a bad rep on a lot of things. If they can see you, they'll not come for you, it takes out their element of surprise."

How It Worked

Phelps told LADbible: "We'd done our research, like how fast they could swim in a straight line. Great Whites have bursts of up to 25mph, a hammer maybe 12-15mph. But these are bursts. So, we also watched how they are in everyday life. And from that, being able to figure out what they'd swim in a 100m race.

"Obviously it's different from swimming in a swimming pool. You have to understand how sharks moves, certain directions, and learn how to get from point A to point B the fastest you can get it."

However, before the race, Phelps did his own studying. He spent time in the Maldives swimming no less than 25ft from a real great white, he sat on the ocean floor with 15 sharks swimming around him, and went cage diving.

His greatest tip? "You always need to keep eye contact with them, and know where they are at all times, and be aware of your surroundings."

Credit: Discovery Channel

Man Versus Shark

Despite the outrage, it was a lot closer than many perhaps predicted. The greatest swimmer of all time later spoke about attributes that he shares with the shark, and ones that he wants.

"We both move quickly through the water," he stated. "But they can turn on a dime. If you think of an animal as big as these sharks, and at the speeds they can reach, and they can turn left, right, up, and down, with a snap of your fingers, they are so quick.

"They weigh up to 5,000lbs (2,260kg), and can be that fast and agile, it's clear why they are top of the food chain.

"I can swim in a straight line, and they can swim in the fastest direction possible but at high speed, and that's mind-blowing to me. My starts [in the pool] were never good, so if I could have had their explosiveness, that would have been incredible."

Credit: PA

Phelps did joke, however, that if this competition could be held in a pool, it may have had a different outcome altogether.

Phelps described his whole shark experience as a 'tremendous' learning curve. Having watched Shark Week for the last 15 years of his life, he got to live the dream.

He's also helped to increase our understanding of the creatures. He added: "Sharks aren't about coming and attacking us, and trying to hurt us. They are living in their own world, and our show will help people when they are in the water with a shark. What to do, what not to do."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: shark