RIO DE JANEIRO -- Decorated U.S. Swimmer Michael Phelps is known to blast music in his headphones to get in the zone before meets, but the look on his face before swimming in Monday's 200 meter butterfly semi-final was downright intense.
During warm ups, cameras in the holding room caught South African swimmer Chad Le Clos doing a little dance right in front of Phelps.
That Michael Phelps game face deserves its own gold medal 😳#Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/LLLc7Kohuy
— Spencer Chen (@spencerchen) August 9, 2016
Whether Le Clos was trying to psyche the American swimmer out is up for debate. But what's clear, is that Phelps's had his game-face on and that dead-pan stare was enough to melt faces off.
It didn't go unnoticed on Twitter and of course the internet immediately loved it....
@MichaelPhelps game face is pure gold. #Olympics2016 pic.twitter.com/Ufw4SPGKxr
— Kelly Finneran (@Kelly_Finneran) August 9, 2016
Same, @MichaelPhelps, same. I feel you. pic.twitter.com/yxzBMASGcH
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) August 9, 2016
Only thing faster than @MichaelPhelps tonight are the meme makers 😂 #ReadyRoom #Swimming
— Skyler Stewart (@skylerstewart_) August 9, 2016
And responded with memes.
Tell me why this boy Michael phelps look like anakin from episode 3 pic.twitter.com/6evPsh6fzO
— Spencer (@spencershotss) August 9, 2016
The stroke is strong with this one.#Rio2016 #Jedi @MichaelPhelps pic.twitter.com/Ia1etCCL5j
— Ben Carrington (@BenHCarrington) August 9, 2016
That Michael Phelps game face #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/pO4vNsCSC7
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 9, 2016
When someone uses "your" when it's supposed to be "you're." #PhelpsFace #Olympics pic.twitter.com/xzergvI7Rj
— Lacy Day Wingard (@ldwin) August 9, 2016
When your choices are voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton pic.twitter.com/EDXrzw5p1o
— Bucky Isotope (@BuckyIsotope) August 9, 2016
When you have to clean the kitchen after Thanksgiving #phelpsface pic.twitter.com/Y2RfKkh6uh
— C.W. Sampson (@babyface_shane) August 9, 2016
Phelps went on to qualify in Tuesday's event, coming in second behind Hungary's Tamas Kenderesi, who closed well and touched at 1:53.96.
When asked about the video of le Clos, Phelps said everyone has different race strategies. "If that's his, that's his," he said.
If that intense face is what it takes for him to bring home another game during the Rio Olympics, we're cool with it.
PHOTOS FROM THE RIO OLYMPICS
