Michael Phelps to take on a great white shark in incredible man vs beast swimming race for Discovery Channel
OLYMPIC legend Michael Phelps will race a great white shark in an incredible showdown.
As part of it's annual - made famous in the UK by hit comedy Stepbrothers - the Discovery Channel has come up with an unusual gimmick.
They are billing it as a race between the greatest athlete of all time against the world's deadliest predator.
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Further details have not been released about the format of the show, which will air in the week beginning July 23.
Phelps, 31, retired after Rio 2016 having amassed a record haul of 23 Olympic medals.
He can reach around six miles per hour in the pool, while a great white can top 25mph in open water.
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The ex-swimmer posted a picture of a shark swimming by a cage on Twitter earlier this week, suggesting he has been scouting the opposition.
Australian Marine Conservation Society representative Tooni Mahto claims it is "anyone's guess" how the race will be conducted.
She told BBC Radio 5 live "It is a forgone conclusion as to who is going to come out on top.
"We can all be fairly certain it's not going to be Michael Phelps versus a great white shark in an Olympic-size swimming pool.
"I'm assuming it's going to be looking at the human body in water compared to a creature that's evolved over millions of years and is perfectly adapted to its marine environment."
Unsurprisingly the news has done the rounds on social media, the best of the reaction is below.
Another Olympic legend, Usain Bolt, raced a cheetah in a
The Jamaican sprinter - who is set to race this year - was just pipped at the line despite a considerable head start.
And in March, Sun Bets pitted Dwain Chambers against Heat Storm at Wolverhampton Racecourse in the build up to the Cheltenham Festival.