Singapore’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist, Joseph Schooling, has been relatively quiet on the international racing front. Post-Rio, the University of Texas student-athlete was greeted with a hero’s welcome in his home nation, complete with parade, ceremonies and prestigious meet-and-greets. Now almost a year removed from his historic swim, Schooling admits his instant fame caused him to get ‘lost’, a feeling which impacted his NCAA performances, including missing out on the 200 butterfly final.
However, while competing at the Texas Sernior Circuit Meet the weekend of June 8th, Schooling posted a world’s top ten-worthy time in the 100m butterfly, clocking 51.82. He also registered an impressive 50m butterfly time of 23.51 at the meet, just off his personal best of 23.25. As a result, Schooling declares “I’m back”, just in time with the 2017 World Championships only 30 days away.
“I kind of lost myself [after Rio]… I definitely understand the situation (of extra attention) better, and I know how to manage it now,” Schooling said in a recent The New Paper interview.
“Having so much attention, and in such a large-scale, can definitely be overwhelming, and you can definitely lose yourself, and that was where I was from August to December last year.
“Now, I tell myself ‘keep doing well, accomplish what you want to do, all the opportunities will come and you can enjoy them when you’re done with swimming’.
“I’ve definitely learned to say no to certain opportunities, because I have to take care of my swimming, and I definitely forgot swimming was the priority in the first semester after the Olympics.”
Schooling said as much in an interview at the NCAA Championships, where he stated he hadn’t been back in the water until December 2016, a fact which made Texas Head Coach Eddie Reese ‘nervous.’
Back to form, however, at the Senior Circuit meet Schooling also raced the 200m butterfly in just prelims, stopping the clock in a time of 2:00.21, of which the 21-year-old was pleased.
“It’s always hard to break the two-minute mark in the morning heats, swimming next to no one,” he said. “But I’ve looked at my splits; I backed off the third 50m a bit too much, but I came back strong (in the last lap).” Schooling’s splits in the race were 26.76/30.50 (57.26); 32.05/30.90 (1:02.95).
“That means I am fit, I am ready to go, and that was what I was looking for… with more rest the race is going to be easier, and if you put someone next to me, I’m definitely going to go way faster.”
Schooling is tentatively slated to race the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly events, as well as the 100m freestyle. In May, Schooling stated one of his primary goals is to take down American Michael Phelps’ World Record time of 49.82 in the 100m butterfly, whether in Budapest or beyond.
“I’m looking forward to that race and deep down I think if I do what I know I can do, if I execute everything well perfectly, I’d have a really good shot,” said Schooling.
And by the way, I’m a huge MP fan. Not discounting anything MP has done. But, Schooling did what no one else could do since 2005. The margin of his victory in Rio in addition to setting a textile best further demonstrates he is the true WR holder in the 100 Fly. Just stating the hard, objective facts.
Phelps swam 1700m of racing before that race, he was 31. Schooling swam 300m of racing before, and he was 20. Need I say more?
OK, folks, in my mind Schooling already is the WR holder in the 100 Fly with his dominant win in Rio which is the textile best. Everyone knows that the holy grail of this event was Ian Crocker’s textile 50.40 from 2005–the real WR. Even Phelps mentioned it after swimming his amazing 50.45 at US Nationals in 2015 which was the 2nd fastest at the time. Schooling’s decisive win over MP, Le Clos, Cseh was amazing. What is all this blah, blah, blah about reaction times, MPs other race schedule, etc? The clock has no favorites and Schooling got it done. He is the true WR holder in the 100 fly.
I’d like to hear some reaction to this post.
Exactly. well-said. He delivers in the biggest stage. That’s enough. No need to argue about other competitors who are tired, tight schedule etc. These are invalid. If Schooling has no potential or didn’t put in the hard work, it is not possible to win in Olympics though his schedule is lighter. If you guys remember, SEA games is just 1 month before World Championships 2015 and he swam 9 events! But he still won a Bronze in 100 fly with 50.96 seconds. He reached the semi finals in 200 fly and got 7th in 50 fly (with Asian record). In Budapest, i hope he can continue to excel and i believe he will. The bigger the stage, the more he… Read more »
Schooling must not be over confident and complacent. Regular training is important. missing few months of training after Rio’s winning is almost unforguvable. the other competitors din not break but Schooling did. This makes a difference.
Cseh back in regular training in January.
There’s always a lot of comments about Schooling on swimswam. Same remark about Andrew.
That is a strange comparison
1:57 at best in the 200 fly.
cut Joe some slack guys, it’s his birthday
I completely do not believe that he went all out in the prelims of the 200 fly at NCAA’s, there is just no way that a 1:45 was his best. I believe he was bummed from losing to Dressel the night before, and knew that he didn’t have the conditioning to beat Conger the next night, so he more or less gave up on the swim. He had been 1:42 at Big 12s and had been swimming faster in everything else at NCAAs.
100% agree. And it’s not like he suddenly got sick on that day of NCAAs and was wrecked. That night he came back and went something like 41.1 on the 400 Free Relay.
He did suddenly get sick. In a post race interview he said he had a stomach virus, but amazingly he was cured an hour later and swam a 41 on the free relay.
Dressel-itis.
Not in the water until Dec of 2016? Did Schooling forget he swam in meets in the Fall of 2016? Typical Texas arrogance and always having an excuse for lack luster performances.
i need to emphasise that his ncaa performance in reality isnt bad. 4 relay golds, 1 silver and a bronze is commendable.
Schooling, is that you?
He did participate.
stfu Bigly! u r definitely jealous. It is obvious that schooling’s achievements are way better than dressel as for now. only a fool denies it. It’s ok. let haters hate, he will be fired up. Too many compliments for an athlete isnt good for his career. We welcome these people to pull him down so he can prove to them more.
Off the podium this summer.