Entertainment

Fans were legitimately upset that Michael Phelps didn't race a real shark

Andrew Joseph
WATCH LIVE
Michael Phelps swims the Men's 200m IM Final of the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships on August 24, 2014 in Gold Coast, Australia.
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Michael Phelps' much-anticipated race against a shark was never going to be against a real great white shark. It was against a computer-generated simulation of a shark.

The fake shark won, beating the the 23-time Olympic gold medalist by two seconds in Sunday's Phelps vs. Shark on Discovery.

@SInow: Advantage: shark

But given an hour of buildup, studies and special wetsuits, fans actually hoped to see Phelps race a shark — a real shark — as he would against a human competitor.

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That didn't happen, and fans were not pleased.

@KennyDucey: Michael Phelps not racing a real shark is like being sold Kanye tickets and then watching a Kanye hologram perform

@darleneturner53: When you find out Phelps not racing a real shark. #SharkWeek

@Yo_Gabi_Gabi_: Me pretending to be ok with Michael Phelps not racing a real shark

@KickinitwithB: WE WANTED TO SEE PHELPS RACING NEXT TO A REAL SHARK. WE WERE ALL TRICKED. #SharkWeek

@TheRealMorley: So it turns out Michael Phelps is only racing a simulation of a shark. If he wins, next week he goes up against Mario Kart. #SharkWeek

@teaminmyeye: Me after finding out that Phelps is racing a cgi shark instead of a real one

@DanaCatM: The entire world thought it was going to be a real shark. I feel robbed. #SharkWeek

@jamieamccracken: Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.So Michael Phelps didn't actually even race a real shark. He raced a simulated one. One hour of life gone just like that.

@imschmags: Michael phelps ain't even racin a real shark? I feel... betrayed @Discovery #SharkWeek2017

@pauly_sly: Phelps not actually physically racing a real shark should have been what we all expected. That's an hour I'll never get back. #SharkWeek

@ChrisJonesy5: So phelps didn't even race a real shark...what a let down

@ThatLizzyChickk: WHY THE HELL WASNT THIS NEXT TO A REAL SHARK

That was an hour that some people will never get back.