When it comes to watching the Olympics, it’s easy to think, ‘How fast can they really be?’ With mere milliseconds separating those from Olympic glory, it’s tempting to believe it’s not that tough.
Well, I hate to break it to you, but a pro athlete would absolutely smoke you… by a lot.
But don’t take our word for it; fortunately for us, Michael Phelps, you know, one of the greatest Olympians of all time, was up for the challenge.
It went down exactly how you would expect it to.
Ever wondered if you could beat Michael Phelps in a race? (Youtube/TheEllenShow)
During an appearance on The Ellen Show back in 2016, the 28-time – yes, that’s right – Olympic medalist was challenged to a race against the average Joe – or ‘Average Andy’, the show’s executive producer.
The now retired Team USA swimmer is no stranger to competition, with 23 Olympic golds, the ‘Baltimore Bullet’ himself has even attempted a ‘race’ against a great white shark in the past, which is a mark of extreme confidence, I think it’s safe to say.
With his monstrous 12,000 calorie diet, there’s no wonder Phelps is an athletic freak of nature. But just how much faster is he than your average person?
Take a look at the clip below to find out:
In the hilarious video, the Phelps doesn’t once appear to break any sweat with his impressive pace, he cruises past Andy in just a few strokes.
In a not-so-tight race between the pair, Phelps glides through the two lengths of the pool in seconds, while Andy flails and thrashes his way to the finish line.
The race wasn’t even close (Youtube/TheEllenShow)
An ‘out of breath’ Andy said: “I’ve got a lot of respect for what you do. Oh my God.”
Gasping for air, he jokes: “Was it close at all? I’ve got to quit vaping.”
Phelps’ ease didn’t go unnoticed by viewers, with one person commenting under a YouTube video: “Michael’s effort level there is lower than most people have walking from the couch to the fridge.”
While a second added: “I don’t really know if an average person swims like that. Kudos to the sacrificial lamb that was sent to make that disparity in skills look even wider.”
Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time (Youtube/TheEllenShow)
I think we all could have guessed that Olympic swimming is much harder than it looks, but props to ‘Average Andy’ for giving it a go.
Usain Bolt, the ‘fastest man in the world’, is another former Olympian who’s taken on the challenge against us mere mortals. Take a wild guess how that one went.
