Michael Phelps defends Shark Week 'race' against great white

Michael Phelps defends Shark Week 'race' against great white

Published Jul. 26, 2017 10:18 a.m. ET

Don't expect an apology from Michael Phelps to TV viewers who were disappointed with his race against a simulated great white shark for a Discovery Channel Shark Week special.

The winningest athlete in Olympic history was bested by two seconds Sunday night in ''Phelps vs. Shark: Great Gold vs. Great White.'' The race didn't pit Phelps against a real shark, but rather a computer-simulated fish based on data on the swimming speed of sharks.

Phelps responded to critics in a Facebook Live video Tuesday. He notes that a shark doesn't swim in a straight line and suggested that a side-by-side race with the predator would be impossible. He later added that he made it clear before the show aired that he wouldn't be racing a real shark.

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