Maybe the blame lays on the viewer, expecting Olympics legend Michael Phelps to actually swim against a shark. Maybe it lays with the Discovery Channel, who promoted and sent out press releases with the line, “The world’s most decorated athlete takes on the ocean’s most efficient predator: Phelps V Shark – the race is on!”
Maybe this whole idea was dumb to begin with.
Regardless, Phelps didn’t actually race a shark Sunday — instead the Discovery Channel aired a “simulation” of a race between Phelps and a computer-generated great white shark as part of an hourlong special for “Shark Week.”
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“Clearly, we can’t put Michael in one lane and a white shark on the far lane. We’re gonna have to do a simulation,” said ecologist Tristan Gutteridge near the end of the broadcast.
And boy, did that make people mad.
Me 2
— Roberto Blizzard (@VeganYogaDude) July 24, 2017
RT@RHomler
When Michael Phelps said he was gonna race a shark this is how I pictured it #SharkWeek pic.twitter.com/502d5jG0ln #SharkWeek
They should now have a water-skiing Fonzie jump over Michael Phelps
— Benjamin Hochman (@hochman) 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
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
I know it’s stupid to think michael phelps was actually going to be racing against a real shark but I’m stupid and upset
— Nicole (@nicoleee_adams) July 24, 2017
Michael Phelps reasonably does not race a real shark.
— Jen Alger (@ThatAlgerKid) July 24, 2017
Me:#SharkWeek pic.twitter.com/wdAbaRmNLQ
If you want to watch the outcome of the “race,” here it is:
The moment of glory for #TeamShark!!! #PhelpsVsShark #SharkWeek pic.twitter.com/NWYp1CwiRa
— Shark Week (@SharkWeek) July 24, 2017
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