I’m sure S’pore will get another Olympic champion in future: Schooling
Joseph Schooling posing for photos at the awards ceremony of the Singapore National Olympic Council’s multi-million dollar awards programme. Photo: Wee Teck Hian/TODAY
SINGAPORE — It has taken 51 years since independence for Singapore to win its first Olympic gold medal and Joseph Schooling, the man who made that particular piece of sporting history, hopes it will not take as long for the next one.
The 21-year-old stunned the world in August when he beat American swim legend and childhood idol Michael Phelps in the 100m butterfly final in Rio, touching the wall first in a Games-record time of 50.39 seconds.
For that feat, Schooling was rewarded on Thursday (Nov 24) evening with S$1 million, under the Singapore National Olympic Council’s (SNOC) multi-million dollar awards programme (MAP). This made him the first ever Singaporean athlete to receive the amount, which is part of a reward-incentive programme started in the 1990s and sponsored by the Tote Board for major Games medallists.
And the swim star believes there is enough sporting talent to ensure that another recipient of a million dollars will arrive in the near future.
“It took us 51 years to get a gold medal and I don’t think it will take us another 51 years to get another Olympic gold medallist,” he told media on the sidelines of the event.
“Anything is possible and there is a lot of talent in Singapore. We’re a young sporting nation and everything takes time (to happen). Hopefully in the near future (that will happen). I think that will be good for the sporting scene in Singapore.”
Schooling was presented with the cheque by Moses Lee, chairman of the Tote Board, together with guest-of-honour Tan Chuan-Jin, who is the Minister for Social and Family Development as well as President of the SNOC, and Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth. He also received a standing ovation as he received his award.
When asked what he will do with the money, Schooling indicated he will give it to his parents, Colin and May, who have reportedly forked out over a million dollars of their own money to help him succeed.
“Probably they will put it into the bank, invest it,” he explained. “Why does a college kid need all that money?
“I’m just happy to be able to receive their support and the rest is up to my parents. I’m just going back to school and do my thing. I don’t need that, but it’s nice and I appreciate it.”
Schooling added he hopes the portion of S$200,000 he will be giving back to the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) — a mandatory requirement for all recipients — will be put to good use in youth development.
He was in attendance with the majority of Singapore’s Rio Games contingent, both athletes and officials, at the glitzy appreciation dinner which was held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Minister Tan, who was in Brazil to watch Team Singapore compete, praised them in his speech.
“I witnessed the camaraderie of Team Singapore, displayed when athletes of different sports came together to form friendships, cheer each other on and encourage one another when times were tough,” he said. “What I witnessed truly exemplifies the spirit of Team Singapore.”
Minister Fu also presented Schooling with the Meritorious Service Medal (Pingat Jasa Gemilang) National Day Award in a separate ceremony after the event. It is his first such award.
Schooling is already focused on achieving more in future, with breaking the 100m fly world record at next year’s world championships being his biggest aim.
He is “excited” to get back to the United States, where he studies and trains at the University of Texas, to work towards his goals.
The 21-year-old departs tonight after a whirlwind week of activities, most of which were for charitable causes.
“Chaos,” he described of his trip home this time. “I am lucky I have my buddy Tripp (Cooper, fellow swimmer) over here… we’ll make the last day count, then go back to Austin and get back to reality.
“This has kind of been a dream, this trip, it’s been a lot of fun, it’s been amazing.”
