Michael Phelps' intense #PhelpsFace starts internet frenzy
American Olympian was staring down rival before semifinal swim
![](https://i.cbc.ca/1.3713095.1470750496!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_1180/michael-phelps-080815.jpg?im=Resize%3D780)
By Aaron Stern, CBC Sports
American swimmer Michael Phelps is known for dominating the pool and being one of the greatest Olympians of all-time, but after yesterday the new trend #PhelpsFace is going to stay with him for life.
Before his showdown with South African rival Chad Le Clos in the 200-metre butterfly, Phelps temporarily morphed into the world's angriest human and the internet did what the internet does best; create a million memes. Check out that stare down below:
When you wake up before the alarm <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PhelpsFace?src=hash">#PhelpsFace</a> <a href="https://t.co/W5F35vULKt">pic.twitter.com/W5F35vULKt</a>
—@jessicareyes
The movie-themed memes started piling in.
I'm just saying...don't make him too angry. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash">#Rio2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Phelps?src=hash">#Phelps</a> <a href="https://t.co/zKcaE53o97">pic.twitter.com/zKcaE53o97</a>
—@ESPNMcGee
"Join me. Together, we can rule the Olympics..." <a href="https://t.co/CbZVlyxPv5">pic.twitter.com/CbZVlyxPv5</a>
—@World_Wide_Wob
One of the best renditions of #Phelpsface is the laser-shooting-eyes edition.
Michael Phelps. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash">#Olympics</a> <a href="https://t.co/mewOF4N0CI">pic.twitter.com/mewOF4N0CI</a>
—@nascarcasm
There was a great comparison to #AngryEli.
Nailed It <a href="https://t.co/L4uw70nM8U">pic.twitter.com/L4uw70nM8U</a>
—@DylansFreshTake
How does this stack up to a very unimpressed Mckayla Maroney at the London 2012 Olympics?
Four years ago we had McKayla Maroney and now we have Michael Phelps with the Meme <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gold?src=hash">#Gold</a> in Rio! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash">#USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash">#Olympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBC?src=hash">#NBC</a> <a href="https://t.co/eDyldRKgor">pic.twitter.com/eDyldRKgor</a>
—@susiealeman
We don't expect this craze to die down anytime soon. Tweet us your #PhelpsFace memes @CBCOlympics.