Olympic swimming great Michael Phelps has just been pipped by a great white shark in a 100m race to kick off the Discovery Channel's Shark Week.
Dubbed "Great Gold vs Great White" and swimming in brisk 11degC waters, Phelps managed to keep up to speed with the shark, wearing a "monofin" and a 1mm thick wetsuit.
Set in an open ocean course, the shark completed it in 36.1 seconds, with Phelps doing it in an impressive 38.1 secondss.
The two weren't pitted against each other in a swimming pool, as some may have hoped, with Phelps and the shark taking turns to do the 100m course at different times.
However, it was completed in open shark-infested waters off South Africa, with divers placed around the course to ensure the American's safety.
Following the two completing the course, Discovery super-imposed the image of the shark doing the race next to Phelps so it was as if the two were competing against each other.
Phelps then tweeted "Rematch? Next time.. warmer water. #SW30 @Discovery @SharkWeek."
Newshub.
