'Phelps Face' Trending After Olympic Qualifier Race

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — Michael Phelps qualified for the 200-meter butterfly Monday at the Olympics, but he had the Internet swimming with headlines mainly because of what preceded the race.

South African swimmer Chad le Clos posted the third fastest time (1:55.19) in Monday's qualifier. Phelps had the second fastest (1:54.12), behind Hungary's Tamas Kenderesi (1:53.96).

In the minutes leading up to the race, le Clos danced around in front of Phelps, whom he beat in the 2012 Olympics in London. "He does his thing; I do my thing," Phelps told the media after the qualifier.

Social media erupted with reactions to the expression Phelps made as le Clos did "his thing," and the hashtag #PhelpsFace took off.

The 31-year-old Maryland swimmer is the most decorated Olympian of all time, with 23 medals to his name after helping Team USA swim past the French in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay on Sunday.

Next up, Phelps will compete in the 200-meter butterfly at 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the 200-meter medley Wednesday and 100-meter butterfly Thursday, televised on NBC.

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Pictured, Michael Phelps. Photo Credit: Team USA/Flickr.