Singaporean swimmer Joseph Schooling made history on a number of levels while competing at the 2016 Olympic Games. And, just days after the conclusion of the meet, the 21-year-old Texas Longhorn is already looking ahead to what he wants to conquer in 2020.
Schooling kicked things off in Rio with a new Singaporean National Record in the men’s 100m freestyle event, scoring a swift 48.27 in prelims to lower his own previous mark. Although he didn’t progress past the semi-finals, his time improvement helped justify the fact he dropped the 200m butterfly in favor of focusing on his two 100m events.
In the 100m butterfly, Schooling registered an Olympic Record-setting time of 50.39, the fastest ever in a textile suit by .01 of a second. In doing so, Schooling earned his nation’s first-ever Olympic swimming medal and also touched out 3 legends in the process. Michael Phelps (USA), Laszlo Cseh (HUN) and Chad Le Clos (RSA) all 3 tied for silver in 51.14 behind the ambitious Schooling.
While he is certainly relishing his experience and results from Rio, including forever remembering his feat via an Olympic rings tattoo, Schooling thinks he’ll be revising his schedule once Tokyo 2020 comes around. In addition to the 100m fly and 100m free, Schooling says he’d like to add back the 200m fly plus the 200 IM.
“I think I can medal in the 200m butterfly. I’ve been training the 200m fly that’s why I can finish the 100 well,” Schooling told The Strait Times.
“I did the 100m free, first time at the Olympics and finished in the top 16. I want to do the 200m individual medley, it’ll be a good all-around race. (So) maybe focus on 3-4 events.”
Mentality-wise, Schooling says that a mantra which gives him fuel in tough races is to tell himself, “you gotta believe you’re the best. I tell myself everyone’s gotta chase me down.”
Helping him along in his quadrennial journey will be the fact that his two-year period of mandatory military training has been deferred again until after 2020, as we reported yesterday. Of the deferment, Schooling stated, “First of all, I’m very honoured and privileged to be granted this deferment by NS. I worked hard for it. This will give me a push for 2020.”
“I’d rather be thinking about 2020 now for the long run and having this deferment kind of lifts the weight off my shoulders.”
“…his time improvement helped justify the fact he dropped the 200m butterfly…”
I respectfully disagree! Schooling might very well have won the 200 fly. Phelps’ time was good enough to win but not especially fast compared to other efforts. In fact I wonder if Bowman missed Phelps’ taper by just a bit, but that is another matter.
I’ve been saying this on repeat, but Phelps’ horrible turns in the 200 fly cost him a 152 mid. Lucky for him he didn’t need it.
He might have, but he didn’t. He chose not to swim it so we’ll never know. It does sound like however he’s going to give it a shot in the future which will be interesting.
I feel the same could be said for Peaty on 200 breast. Previous results are inconsistent with a best of 2.08 I think. But surely *some* of the 100m drops would translate over 200? I mean he could do low 61 with a resting heart rate no!?
How much money will schooling get for getting a gold medal
After reading about it for 3 days straight I would say $200 or so 🙂
750,000 US dollars
Bring down those suited fly records schooling!!!!! (Love phelps but with the changing of the guard I think it’s only for those records go sometime)
Curious to see if conger tries for the 200 IM as well, considering what he has done LC in 200 fly, 200 back and 200 free
He could medal in 200 IM, since no more MP and possibly Lochte:)
Does he have a good breast/backstroke?
He was 1:59.99 in the IM at the world champs in 2013 before he even started Eddie’s training. He can compete internationally in the IM for sure.
He dropped 200 fly here to focus on 100 fly and 100 free. No way he picks up 200IM