World C'ships: Joseph Schooling makes 100m fly final with time of 50.78s
The 100m butterfly is Singapore swimmer Joseph Schooling's pet event. Photo: AP
BUDAPEST – National swimmer Joseph Schooling is one step away from winning Singapore’s first-ever gold medal at the Fina World Championships, after the 22-year-old earned a spot in the men’s 100m butterfly final at the Duna Arena on Friday night (Saturday morning, Singapore time).
Earphones plugged in, he patted the Singapore flag on his chest as he strode confidently out into the maximum-capacity arena, ready to face his seven rivals in the pool.
Racing in lane 5 of the first semi-final, the Singaporean found himself playing catch-up after the first 50m after placing second behind Brazil Henrique Martins. But he turned on the heat in the final leg, powering past his rival to claim top spot in 50.78sec.
He eventually finished fourth overall to qualify for Saturday’s final (12.13am, Sunday, Singapore time). The top three qualifiers were American Caeleb Dressel (50.07sec), James Guy of Britain (50.67sec), and Hungary’s Kristof Milak (50.77sec).
Schooling said after the race that he was just focused on getting the job done.
“It’s alright (my time), I just try to do my best, get in top eight,” said the University of Texas undergraduate.
“The most important thing is booking that spot in tomorrow’s final.”
While Dressel’s place at the top of the field came as no surprise as the American debutant – who has already won three gold medals at the world meet – has been in scintillating form since arriving in Budapest last week, Friday’s semi-finals did throw up an unexpected twist for fans at the Duna Arena. Defending champion Chad le Clos – who had won the 200m butterfly title earlier this week – was sent crashing out of the 100m fly final after the South African clocked 51.48sec in his semi-final to finish 12th overall.
As the focus turns to the 100m fly final on Saturday night, the highly-anticipated showdown between former Bolles School teammates Dressel and Schooling is set to light the Duna Arena on fire.
Schooling, who had previously said that he enjoys a good challenge in the pool, added: “I hope I can put together a good race tomorrow and see what happens.
“I’m not going to count on anything, going to count on my ability to race, stand up and race as hard as I can, that’s it. Experience (at the Olympics) helps but tomorrow it’s who can race the hardest, who can be the best.”
