Shark Week 2017 began with a dud.
One could argue the weeklong television event, which airs annually on the Discovery Channel, is overrated to begin with, although that’s neither here nor there. The internet was especially hostile Sunday night, though, when a supposed “race” between Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps and a great white shark turned out to be a complete waste of time.
The moment of glory for #TeamShark!!! #PhelpsVsShark #SharkWeek pic.twitter.com/NWYp1CwiRa
— Shark Week (@SharkWeek) July 24, 2017
Obviously, Phelps wasn’t going to just jump into the water and race a shark. There are too many variables involved — like, say, Phelps’ safety — for that to go off without a hitch. But most viewers expected a cool visual — a glass barrier separating the two, or something like that — and instead were left with a timed estimation, with Phelps going up against a computer-generated shark.
The whole thing was awful, especially given the build-up, and the Sharknado-esque “race” drew a whole bunch of negative reviews on social media.
Turns out “Michael Phelps races a shark” was really just “Michael Phelps swims alone and then compares his time to a shark’s time.”
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) July 24, 2017
smh Michael Phelps isn't actually racing a shark. He's just racing a simulation of a shark. Biggest scam of 2017
— Marcus (@M_Frosti) July 24, 2017
When u realize Phelps isn't actually racing side by side with a great white shark… #SharkWeek pic.twitter.com/popKv38jba
— Michael Pezzetta (@mpezzetta13) July 24, 2017
When Michael Phelps said he was gonna race a shark this is how I pictured it happening #SharkWeek pic.twitter.com/GiEfJssNhL
— Ryan Homler (@RHomler) 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
https://twitter.com/tatummowery/status/889277779166081025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Fnews%2Fmichael-phelps-a-great-white-shark-fans-decry-use-cgi-race-1023766
So you mean to tell me Michael Phelps didn't even race a real shark? It was just a simulation. I'm mad. More like Shark WEAK! pic.twitter.com/gwIGTe7Y9p
— Frank Costa (@feistyfrank) July 24, 2017
There are people on twitter who thought Phelps was going to race an actual shark…and are mad he didn't… #SharkWeek pic.twitter.com/XErEtxRY8B
— Matt Szat (@ItsMattSzat) July 24, 2017
Michael Phelps reasonably does not race a real shark.
Me:#SharkWeek pic.twitter.com/wdAbaRmNLQ
— Ghost Tweeter (@ThatAlgerKid) July 24, 2017
Hey @SharkWeek I didn't come here to watch Phelps race video game sharks and for that reason… pic.twitter.com/PJPB2A6o9l
— Gary Striewski (@garystriewski) July 24, 2017
The tight rope walker. The guy sky diving from space. This phelps/shark thing. They are always long, drawn out trash & we will always watch
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) July 24, 2017
Oh yeah, by the way, Phelps lost … in case you cared.
Thumbnail photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
