10 Embarrassing Ways Celebs Tried To Regain Lost Fame

3. Probably While High, Michael Phelps Said, "F*** It, I'll Just Race A Shark."

Michael Phelps is one hell of a physical specimen, holding 28 medals for his Olympic career as a guy who swims real good. He came out of the gate like a thoroughbred, impressing those interested in aquatic ability. Or like a shark, which he eventually raced.

After footage was leaked of Phelps smoking a bong as an ASU undergrad like an... ASU undergrad, sponsors walked away. Turns out he was guilty of one time being in college, so his career started to look bleaker than Lance Armstrong's single testicle.

He needed a gimmick to win back the public, who at the time still thought marijuana was the devil's thing and not legal in many states (how far we've come). The Olympics wouldn't have him, sponsors thought he was a burnout, so what was left to impress the world?

Racing a shark seemed like a perfectly logical option. During Shark Week, Phelps agreed to get in the water with a Great White and go 100 metres toe to toe with a maneater. But it wasn't the death-defying stunt the world hoped for. Instead, Phelps went up against an oversized, CGI replica of a Carcharodon carcharias. Anyone hoping to witness an Olympic Gold Medalist devoured on television had their hopes dashed.

Despite this, the show garnered better ratings than any other Shark Week event in history. In case anyone cares, he won.