Michael Phelps Sort Of Explains 'Phelps Face'
NEW YORK (WJZ/AP) — Before introducing hip hop artist Future at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night, Michael Phelps said he's been inspired by hip-hop music.
He revealed that he listened to Future's music before swimming and making the grimace that went viral at the Rio Olympics earlier this month.
As South African swimmer Chad le Clos shadow boxed in front of him in the on-deck room ahead of their 200m butterfly semifinal, Phelps would've won gold, silver and bronze in the Olympic event of "being terrifying," if that were a real thing.
#PhelpsFace started trending on Facebook and Twitter, and became a full fledged meme.
A few days later, a Canadian man even got an artistic rendering of the face tattooed on himself.
Earlier this month, Phelps was on TODAY, and said he wasn't pointedly making a face at le Clos.
"I just had music going on in my head," he said. "I had thoughts going on in my head, spitting water a little bit all over the place, so I was in my own zone. I was not intentionally mean mugging him or giving him a dirty look."
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