Joe Schooling: “You Gotta Be Nasty When You Race,” Forbes 30 Under 30

Earlier this year Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling arrived on Forbes Magazine’s prestigious ’30 Under 30′ for the ‘Entertainment & Sports’ category among Asian-Pacific honorees. The list includes world-famous pop stars, actors, and creatives, as well as a few other swimmers spanning 24 Asian-Pacific countries.

In Rio, Schooling became Singapore’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist by winning the men’s 100 meter butterfly and beating 100 fly Olympic three-peat Michael Phelps, establishing a new Olympic record of 50.39, then also a textile world record. And though Schooling says “you gotta be nasty when you race,” his life since capturing the Olympic gold seems pretty sweet.

In addition to his gold medal and heightened celebrity status–internationally, and especially in Singapore–Schooling took home a $753,000 cash bonus for his victory. Similar to Phelps’s post-Beijing 2008 global victory lap, the prices and privileges of being a national hero and the obligations to thank and give back to his fans and supporters might have kept Schooling out of the water a little too long last fall. Now in his senior year at the University of Texas, Schooling is looking to reassert himself as the NCAA butterfly king.

In the video below Schooling speaks on his ultra-competitive mentality, reminiscences about his gold-medal-winning performance in Rio, and tells us a little about his goals for sports and national unity in Singapore.

 

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2 Cents
6 years ago

Surprised I am the first to post about this…But can someone explain how he took home $750k for his performance and did not violate any NCAA rules?? I am sure there is a reason, or something I am missing, but I am still wondering how that is possible.

Admin
Reply to  2 Cents
6 years ago

2 Cents – I think maybe you’re the first to post about it because everyone else has been frustrated by it for a long period of time: https://swimswam.com/joseph-schooling-cashes-753000-biggest-gold-medal-bonus-world/

For what it’s worth, American swimmers (Caeleb Dressel, for example) take home a lot of money for winning gold medals too. Hard to decide that the only distinction between the two is that “Singapore chooses to make it’s Olympic champions rich, while the U.S. chooses to make their Olympic champions middle class.” I think there have been other engagements (like the free membership to the Country Club – https://swimswam.com/schooling-named-honorary-member-singapore-island-country-club/) that walk closer to that line, though I understand why the $750k is a more eye-catching number.

2 Cents
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

No, the number doesn’t shock me especially knowing how rich of a country Singapore is, and in total I know they give out less gold medal money than all the US sporting organizations do in total… my shock is in the fact that this is allowed by the NCAA and not violating their “amateur status” by accepting prize money. The only equivalent I can think of is how football players get those nice gift baskets when they play in a certain bowl game (ie PS4’s, apple watches, etc.).

Admin
Reply to  2 Cents
6 years ago

And my point was “you’ve asked the question of Schooling, but not of Dressel.” If you’re going to ask the question of Schooling, then it would be fair to ask it of every medal-winning American swimmer too.

2 Cents
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

Okay, Then how do they all get away with it? What is to keep a sponsor like Speedo from saying here is $10M to give to gold medalists, with an extra bonus if they win by x amount of seconds, or in a WR time? In other words to make specific benchmarks aimed at specific swimmers. It feels like those companies could do the same thing that Adidas, etc did with Louisville basketball…. not that they would, but could.

Also, I did not know that Dressel and other other Americans were allowed to keep their “prize money” from the Olympics. I always thought that the money won by the amateurs was pooled and divided evenly among the “pros”. Maybe… Read more »

Admin
Reply to  2 Cents
6 years ago

Here’s the exception that allows it: https://web3.ncaa.org/lsdbi/search/proposalView?id=505

It was later expanded to all similar programs by all Olympic committees.

Mark Emmert said he was “concerned” by Schooling being able to keep the money, and was going to revisit the rules.

2 Cents
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

Thank you. That actually looks like it went into place a lot earlier than I would have thought. I wonder how it applies or is justified for similar foreign programs as is the case with Schooling. Do you happen to know if the same applies to other national team meets like World Champs or Pan Pacs etc? I would assume that for something like prize money on the PSS Circuit that this does not apply? I just remember swimmers at the (formally known as) Ultra Swim meet, not being able to accept prize money for breaking the meet record because they were still swimming in the NCAA. This is definitely a complicated area/topic and I trust/believe in the process that… Read more »

Admin
Reply to  2 Cents
6 years ago

I believe it applies to all “Olympic committee reward programs’ broadly speaking. I remember I first became aware of this with Missy Franklin after the London Olympics. Not sure if it applies to USA Swimming money.

I’ll do some research and reach out to some people and see if we can put together a primer on where the lines are drawn – though, as is frequently the case in NCAA rules, the lines are often drawn after the fact rather than before it.

Cmon
6 years ago

Nasty during the race, and pouty after it (if dressel is racing him)

Gabriel Lopez
6 years ago

Well we got oui

das swimmer
6 years ago

Dressel deserves this honor so much more than JS. JS is still living off his one good swim he’s had on the world stage. CD has had many and is clearly the future of the sport/event. JS is a good not great swimmer who will always be remembered for his arrogance coming back to bight him.

Uberfan
Reply to  das swimmer
6 years ago

Did Dressel win his countries first Olympic gold medal in an Olympic record?

Buona
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

Well said uberfan. To be fair, both are good swimmers.

Uberfan
Reply to  Buona
6 years ago

Yes and Caeleb is better but Schooling has huge influence in his country and I bet tons of Singaporeans and south East Asians look to him as inspiration. Not saying Caeleb doesn’t inspire some people but he doesn’t have the reach of Schooling

crooked donald
Reply to  Buona
6 years ago

Pretty sure 7 golds at Worlds is better than “good.”

crooked donald
Reply to  das swimmer
6 years ago

Well said, DAS Swimmer.

2 Cents
Reply to  das swimmer
6 years ago

So you apparently did not read the article… How does Dressel deserve this award for being a top-30 prestigious person under 30 in the Entertainment & Sports category for Asian-Pacific people? I agree Dressel is a better swimmer now, but clearly this is not an award that he deserves as he is neither of Asian, or Pacific heritage. Also, anyone who wins an Olympic gold medal is considered “great” in my book, especially in an individual even and especially if they beat the WR holder in the process. Just saying.

Swimmer
Reply to  das swimmer
6 years ago

This is a Forbes list. You probably have to earn a million dollars to be on it. Dressel didn’t pocket a million dollars from swimming last year.

Kim
6 years ago

Come 2020, it´s Milak time 🙂

Jojob
Reply to  Kim
6 years ago

Yeah, KIM. I’m expecting Kristof Milak to go on to own the 200m fly. He’s younger than any of his competitors and loaded with talent. It’s kind of amazing for Hungary to come up with a talented guy like Tamas Kenderesi and then immediately follow with a younger, arguably more talented guy, like Milak. Maybe they grew up following the butterfly inspiration of Laszlo Cseh.

Uberfan
Reply to  Jojob
6 years ago

Poor Laszlo he had to swim in an era with Phelps and Lochte the best swimmer and the best IMer

marklewis
6 years ago

He won the gold medal in the 100 fly, but he was a bit lucky. His main competitors had already swum multiple events and relays, and weren’t as fresh as he was. But he swam a great race under the pressure of the Olympics. He won the gold medal representing Singapore, but it was accomplished due to American coaching.

Last year, he was defeated twice by Dressel, who swam better times than his PB. So, he’s not the Best in the World anymore.

He’ll have more chances to race Dressel in the future, so this will be a rivalry to watch. They were teammates once, which adds to the intrigue.

He’ll win the NCAA title in the 200 fly… Read more »

PK Doesn\'t Like His Long Name
Reply to  marklewis
6 years ago

Part of being fresh was him choosing to be fresh. He was capable of swimming basically any individual event he wanted but he identified that swimming only the 100 fly (and one 100 free race) was his best chance of winning gold. I don’t think it’s fair to characterize that as luck.

crooked donald
Reply to  PK Doesn\'t Like His Long Name
6 years ago

The luck was that Phelps tried to go a PB and make an indelible GOAT statement in the 200 IM final the night before. As he said, “That hurt — a lot.” He could’ve easily chosen to pull up on free and win by — I don’t know — half a second instead of TWO SECONDS and be less cratered for the 100 fly final the next night. So yeah, that was Schooling’s luck.

Aggie Swim Fan
Reply to  marklewis
6 years ago

See my former comment. Not a Texas fan but you should give him accolades for his Olympic performance. If an Aggie can give a Texas swimmer accolades, then anybody can (& should) no matter your allegiance(s)! The guy can flat out “fly” (pun intended of course)!!

marklewis
Reply to  Aggie Swim Fan
6 years ago

He’s not 5’8. He’s 6’0″ (or so it’s reported). I think his best swim of the year was the anchor leg on the Texas 4X100 free relay at NCAAs.

j pine
Reply to  marklewis
6 years ago

He’s 6”0’ (184cm) He’s short for a swimmer, but he ain’t THAT short

PsychoDad
Reply to  j pine
6 years ago

No, he ain’t 6’0”. Joe is one of the nicest guys you can meet with talk to. he is also fiercely competitive and that runs some people off. Nothing to do about that. Meeting Joe is fun, but not nearly as fun as meeting his Mom and Dad. He is a product of a great family, His competiveness was inherited from his Mom. Eddie recruits great families as much as he recruits great swimmers, I think.

crooked donald
Reply to  j pine
6 years ago

He was 6 foot until Dressel went 49.8. Then his stature diminished. After another beatdown from Dressel at NCAAs, he’ll probably be 5 foot 4.

crooked donald
Reply to  Aggie Swim Fan
6 years ago

The Olympics is so 2016. We’re right on top of 2018, and Joe’s a half second behind Dressel in the 100 LCM fly.

j pine
Reply to  marklewis
6 years ago

This video was actually released by forbes in April (with the original Asia 30 under 30) , before Dressel broke his textile record. So yes, he was the best in the world when it was filmed, at least long-course wise.

Shawn
6 years ago

I don’t think Joe is a bad guy, and probably doesn’t deserve a lot of the backlash he gets on these forums, but then you have these articles that continue to justify and find reasons for his subpar performances last year. In my opinion that entire paragraph was not needed, and just makes excuses for poor performance.

j pine
Reply to  Shawn
6 years ago

He seems like guy that people should, and do (especially in Singapore I’m guessing), draw inspiration from. His road to success is truly inspiring. Moving across the world alone at 14 is remarkable. I’ve read reports that he was homesick, constantly wanted his parents with him, and would cry over the phone to them, but whenever they asked him if he would like to leave Bolles and return he always said no because he knew this was the only way he was gonna become Olympic Champion, and persevered on. I think that Joe’s perseverence and his success might seem as a justifiable reason to be somewhat proud, and although some of his comments portray him in that manner, he’s apparenty… Read more »

ems
Reply to  j pine
6 years ago

Couldn’t have said it better.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  j pine
6 years ago

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh. That kinda sounds like the definition of “first world problems.”

Not tryna say what he did wasn’t hard, it definitely was But I mean, idk. Just doesn’t really get me all fired up to root for someone, not in the same way Marshawn Lynch’s childhod does: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/marshawn-lynch-and-oakland-are-ready-for-one-last-ride-and-youre-not-invited/2017/09/22/163ede00-9e59-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html

“On his birthday one year he was so hungry he wandered across the street to visit a woman who ran a restaurant and catering business. He told her he turned 7 that day, and she made him a hamburger; he’d never forget it.”

My assumption is he grew up semi-privileged, but someone smash me over the head with a correction if I’m wrong.

ex quaker
Reply to  Steve Nolan
6 years ago

If we played those “what-aboutism” games the only time we’d ever get behind a tough life story would be Kenyan long distance runners.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  ex quaker
6 years ago

Oh for sure. That’s just why I don’t find Schooling’s story compelling in the same vein as your Tom Rinaldi type of “overcoming adversity” type things, I feel like kids moving away from their families to go train isn’t super uncommon.

Sir Swimsalot
Reply to  Steve Nolan
6 years ago

It’s hard for anybody to leave a family they love and live in a brand new country. “Privilege” has nothing to do with it, and really shouldn’t matter at all.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Sir Swimsalot
6 years ago

Uhh…”privilege” literally has everything to do with what I’m talking about. A poor family ain’t gonna have the means to send their kid to go train with a world-class group halfway across the world, knowwhatimean?

His privilege didn’t put in the work, but it allowed him the opportunity to do so in the most advantageous way.

Uberfan
Reply to  Steve Nolan
6 years ago

Yes, Singaporeans enjoy a very high standard of living. And that article was really good. Almost as good as the vice peace on the Young Bucks

Sccoach
Reply to  Shawn
6 years ago

The guy had a great Olympics, probably didn’t train as hard as he should have afterwards and had a bad ncaas, who cares. The forum, and you, need to move on. You say he shouldn’t get backlash and then you accuse him of making excuses for poor performance. Move on.

Sccoach
Reply to  Sccoach
6 years ago

Sorry I misunderstood, you are saying the article is making excuses, not him, sorry I shouldn’t post after I wake up.

Shawn
Reply to  Sccoach
6 years ago

Yeah, I’m not saying that he is making these excuses, but rather the article (and I probably wasn’t clear either!). He knows what he did and didn’t do in preparation for last year, and he was very gracious in defeat. It just seems like unnecessary things are being brought up in stories where there is really no relevance.

Caleb Dressel Will Get 7 gold medals in Tokyo
Reply to  Shawn
6 years ago

“That 50.7 felt monotonous.” When Dressel just went a 50.8 and most elite swimmers have trouble breaking 51, it was kinda rude.

Aggie SWim Fan
Reply to  Shawn
6 years ago

In total agreement with your assessment. Even though my moniker gives away my allegiance to A&M, you gotta admire him being 5’8″ tall & able to destroy guys 6′ & over in the 100 fly! Having height helps but he proves that lack of height is not necessarily a deterrent in this event!

USA USA USA
Reply to  Aggie SWim Fan
6 years ago

He’s 6’0″, not 5’8″.

Morning Joe
Reply to  USA USA USA
6 years ago

He is not 6 feet. That is what they list him at. 5’10 at best. I give him crap about this all the time while playing golf. He is a great golfer by the way

j pine
Reply to  Morning Joe
6 years ago

He’s mentioned on his twitter he’s 184cm (metric system) which converts to about 6 feet

crooked donald
Reply to  Morning Joe
6 years ago

See “first world problems” above.

SwimGeek
Reply to  Aggie SWim Fan
6 years ago

He’s relatively undersized for an elite swimmer — but c’mon, no chance he’s 5-8. And he’s built like an ox.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  SwimGeek
6 years ago

Must really make his shave downs that much more effective.

j pine
Reply to  Aggie SWim Fan
6 years ago

Besides your error of him being 5” 8’, I agree with your point. Look at Daniel Roy, Joe Schooling and Josh Prenot. All of them were likely the shortest in their respective finals, but they still came out on top! Height matters less and less these days

Go Bearcats
6 years ago

2020 Phelps will take the crown back!

Buona
Reply to  Go Bearcats
6 years ago

Phelps has retired and he claimed that he will not return for next Olympics.

Go Bearcats
Reply to  Go Bearcats
6 years ago

My comment wasn’t serious.. cmon guys

Captain Awesome
Reply to  Go Bearcats
6 years ago

It’s also not funny anymore.

About Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson originally hails from Clay Center, Kansas, where he began swimming at age six.  At age 14 he began swimming club year-round and later with his high school team, making state all four years.  He was fortunate enough to draw the attention of Kalamazoo College where he went on to …

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