The "great challenge" faced by Michael Phelps against a white shark

American Olympic legend Michael Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympic Games, had one of the "great challenges" of his career when swimming against a white shark for the Discovery channel in Spanish and said that many people believe he is "crazy" for doing it.

"The experience was undoubtedly a great challenge," said Phelps in a press teleconference where he said his goal was never to "beat" a shark, but to "compare" himself, "swim with them and learn how they live."

The winner of 23 Olympic gold medals, now retired, faced the greatest predator of the ocean in a unique race recorded near the shores of Cape Town (South Africa) and that the Discovery channel in Spanish will premiere on July 23 in the United States.

"Many believe I am crazy for diving into the water to do this, but I had all the safety measures in the water and I felt very safe all the time," he said.

The particular test took place in open waters, at just 13 degrees Celsius, and the program's team created a swimming lane in which Michael Phelps swam with 15 divers below him, according to the swimmer himself.

Source: EFE