In.

Michael Phelps is going to race a great white shark on the Discovery Channel. Press release:

They are one of the fastest and most efficient predators on the planet: Sharks. He is our greatest champion to ever get in the water: Michael Phelps. 39 world records. 23 Olympic golds. But he has one competition left to win. An event so monumental no one has ever attempted it before. The world’s most decorated athlete takes on the ocean’s most efficient predator: Phelps V Shark – the race is on! Produced by Peacock Productions.

First off, I am going to watch the BALLS off this thing. You put Michael Phelps in a tank – any tank – and on my TV in the summer, and I’m all-in. I’d watch that dude take a leisurely swim in an infinity pool if you gave me his split times. The fact that he’s going to take on that devil creature and re-assert his place on the food chain just adds to the intrigue.

HOWEVER, I’m a bit concerned for Phelps. How badly does he need money? I feel like if you’re THE GREATEST OLYMPIAN OF ALL-TIME you can be a bit more judicious with your appearances. The fact that he’s only a year removed from winning a Gold Medal and already swimming against sharks in made-for-TV events does not bode well for his post-swimming career arc. You don’t go up from racing a shark on cable TV. I mean, I figured we’d get here eventually – I imagine network execs were frothing at the mouth to put Phelps in the pool with a shark, much the same way they want to get Ryan Lochte to face off against a mirror in a really abstract Black Swan reboot – just not quite yet. At this rate, it won’t be long until the eventual reality show and wholesale sex change.

Side note: If they don’t throw the shark in the warm room with Phelps and let it flap around on the floor while he’s going through his pre-race psychosis, they’re doing it very, very wrong.