Michael Phelps' Amazing Reaction to His Competition Is Worth More Than Any Gold Medal
Sure, he's talented in the pool, but #PhelpsFace is one of the most viral things to come out of Rio 2016.
Michael Phelps isn't just making headlines for embracing the cupping trend at the 2016 Summer Olympics or nabbing yet another gold medal. The USA swimmer is also in the news thanks to a very priceless reaction he had to his competition while in Rio.
Before heading into the pool Monday night, Michael was spotted in the ready room where he appeared to be getting in the zone (or staring down fellow athlete Chad le Clos from South Africa). Chad narrowly beat Michael for the gold medal in the 200M butterfly at the London games in 2012, and their rivalry is a storied onein the swimming community. His facial expression, which has since been dubbed #PhelpsFace, has since gone viral and become a gold-medal winning meme to beat.
Phelps spotted putting on his best, um, game face in Rio.
When asked about the moment, Michael tried to clear up what was really going on. So, what was he thinking? "Nothing," he shared. "I was trying not to really even look at him. He does his thing, I do my thing." Still it hasn't stopped the internet from poking fun at the swimmer, who just so happened to place ahead of Chad during the 200M butterfly semifinal on Tuesday, according to USA Today.
This moment is similar to one that gymnast McKayla Maroney had in back in 2012. When the U.S. athlete was on stage to accept her silver medal during the London games that year, she went viral with an expression that was rightfully dubbed the "not impressed" face.
We wonder if she's, well, impressed with her fellow Team USA member's own viral moment.
