Swimming Legend Michael Phelps vs Piranha: Who’s Faster?

The most decorated Olympian, Michael Phelps, dominated all of his events during his prime. When he was swimming competitively, he was the fastest at most meets.

Although, Caeleb Dressel has since reclaimed the title, people still consider Phelps the G.O.A.T. How would his speed compare to that of the piranha fish?

The species is known for its razor-sharp teeth and voracious appetite. But instances of piranha attacks on humans have been few and far between. One must follow safety measures if one chances upon a shoal. Let’s explore whether Phelps will be able to outswim a school during a chance encounter.

The fastest speeds attained by Michael Phelps in water

In water, Phelps has attained speeds of up to 6 mph. The swimmer achieved this feat in 2010. This figure may not impress some as humans tend to be much faster on land.

In water, however, it is a different story altogether, and numbers do not lie. And this is among the fastest swimming speeds in recorded history. To put it into scale, average swimmers can attain a swimming speed of roughly 2 mph.

That is to say, Phelps is three times faster than the average Joe. To put it differently, the 28-time Olympic medalist would complete three laps by the time an average swimmer completes their first.

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But Phelps recorded a much faster speed in 2017 when he attained a maximum speed of 8.8 mph. He reached this speed with the help of a monofin specifically designed to mimic a shark’s movements.

Can Phelps beat a piranha?

Piranhas have earned a reputation for being aggressive. A shoal of piranhas can devour smaller prey in a matter of seconds. And there have been very few instances of attack on humans by the species. However, there are instances of attacks on larger prey, including humans, during the dry season when food sources are scarce.

The species can attain speeds of up to 25 mph in short bursts. Comparing this speed to Phelps’, the fastest Olympian would be left far behind in a race. More specifically, the difference in speeds between Phelps and the piranhas is almost the same as between Phelps and an average swimmer.

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Therefore, in an ideal situation, a piranha would complete a 50m stretch while Phelps would roughly be at the 16m mark. Life does not always present perfect scenarios, and their recorded speeds are only valid for short bursts. But the swimmer may still be able to outswim a piranha in real-world situations.