Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images(RIO DE JANEIRO) — Michael Phelps’ determination to stay in the zone while his swimming rival, South Africa’s Chad le Clos, amped himself up before their face off Monday in Rio resulted in a death stare face that has gone viral.
The hashtag #PhelpsFace emerged after Phelps, 31, was caught on camera glowering with his hood over his head and his hands in his pockets as he prepared to race in the 200-meter butterfly semifinal.
/TV cuts back to Phelps as he's calmly adjusting a folding chair and the South African guy is nowhere to be seen pic.twitter.com/gpXcCaiGNL
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) August 9, 2016
Nearby Phelps was le Clos, who prepared for the same race by shadow boxing and smiling in front of Phelps.
Phelps finished second in the race while le Clos finished fourth.
“I was trying to not really even look at him,” Phelps told NBC’s Michele Tafoya after the race. “He does his thing, I do my thing.”
The two will face off again Tuesday night in the 200-meter butterfly final.
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