Victory yet to sink in for Schooling after ‘crazy’ final
Joseph Schooling posing for photos with national coach Sergio Lopez after the medal ceremony. Photo: Low Lin Fhoong/TODAY
RIO DE JANEIRO — Sitting under the harsh glare of the spotlights here at the Olympic Aquatic Stadium’s press conference room, Joseph Schooling squinted and grimaced slightly. The bright lights of fame will certainly take some getting used to for the Singaporean swimmer, after a phenomenal race on Friday (Saturday morning, Aug 13, Singapore time) that saw Schooling defeating his childhood idol Michael Phelps to win the Republic’s first-ever gold medal.
Minutes after his giant-slaying feat here in Rio de Janeiro, the swimmer from the “Little Red Dot” was on everyone’s lips, as television crew and reporters from around the globe clamoured to speak to the 21-year-old from Singapore.
And the magnitude of his feat – an Olympic, Asian and national record (50.39sec) – had barely sunk in for Schooling as he faced a roomful of journalists after his race last night while flanked by the world’s best butterfly specialists – joint-silver medallists Phelps, South Africa’s Chad le Clos, and European champion Laszlo Cseh of Hungary, who all clocked 51.14sec.
“It’s crazy, I need a couple days, to go back, chill by myself away from the craziness of this and just digest what has happened,” he said. “It’s really an honour and privilege to race alongside Chad, Laszlo and Michael.”
Well aware that thousands of fans were rooting for him back home, he added: “This race means more to my family and friends and to the people that supported me, this is for them. When you race for the people greater than yourself, that really means a lot to accomplish what you want to.”
Perhaps it was a hint of things to come, as the 15,000-capacity arena’s speakers blared American rap metal band, Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls on Parade”, as Schooling stepped onto the starting blocks of the Olympic Aquatic Stadium for the final of the men’s 100m butterfly.
For the 21-year-old has been bullish about his chances here in Rio, declaring in an interview with TODAY in Florida in June that he was ready to win gold for Singapore. He had seemed ready to deliver on his word, posting the fastest overall qualifying time in the heats (51.41s) and again in the semi-finals (50.83s) on Thursday.
And the young Singaporean left a 15,000-strong crowd here – and a field of seven other swimmers - shell-shocked on Friday night, as he swam a perfect race from start to finish, leading the pack from the starting buzzer to touch home first ahead of defending champion Phelps – who had not lost the event at the Olympics since the 2008 Beijing Games – 2012 silver medallist Le Clos and Cseh.
In doing so, the 21-year-old earned himself a spot in Olympic history – as the one who stopped Phelps from ending his storied career with a last individual gold – and Singapore’s history books by becoming the first Singaporean to win gold at the Games, adding to the Republic’s medal count of two silver (weightlifting, table tennis) and two bronze (table tennis).
Standing stoically, hand on heart, as Majulah Singapura was played in an Olympic venue for the first time, Schooling knew what his victory meant for a small sporting nation like Singapore. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from really…some people believe that Singapore has a lot of talent, I believe that, (Singapore head coach) Sergio (Lopez) believes that, Eddie (Reese) believes that,” he said.
“So for them to say that and then for me to prove that they’re right, that’s crazy. I hope this opens a new door, more doors for sports in our country and hopefully I’ve set a precedent for a lot more young guys to come up through.
“It’s been a hard road, I’ve done something that no one in our country has done before, I’ve received a lot of support and that’s phenomenal. I’m not going to lie, the first guy through the door, through the wall is always bloody. I have to take that blow and I’m thankful and I’m blessed that I have the ability to accomplish this.
And for the mother who believed in him, there was an emotional hug for her tonight, as the young swimmer blew May Schooling a kiss poolside after the victory ceremony before finally getting a chance to meet and hug her after the press conference.
“I was so happy I was screaming in the stands,” said May. Admitting that it had been tough for her and her husband Colin to let their only son leave home for Florida’s Bolles School in 2009 to live and train, she added: “This had made all our sacrifices worth it, and I’m just really happy for Joseph right now.”
While Schooling had kept calm and stoic throughout the victory ceremony and press conference, the emotions threatened to spill over during a telephone conversation with his father, Colin, who was back home in Singapore watching the action on television with his friends and family.
Added Schooling: “This moment’s not about me, it’s all about my coaches, my friends, my family that believed that when I was a six-year-old kid that I can do it. So this swim wasn’t for me, it’s for my country, family and all those people that supported me and believed in me.”
With his historic gold medal win, Schooling has had to change his travel schedule. He had initially planned to fly to the United States on Sunday to start school at the University of Texas. But instead, he will now return home for the gold-medal party that Singaporeans will throw for their swimming hero.
Perhaps this long flight home will give Schooling the time he needs to take in this “craziness”. For the spotlight will definitely be waiting when Singapore’s newly-minted Olympic champion returns home.
