Olympian Joseph Schooling: “I Think I’m Done With The 200 Fly”

14TH SINGAPORE NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018

We recently reported that Singapore’s Olympic hero Joseph Schooling would be opting out of the 200m butterfly at the 2018 Asian Games, but it appears the 23-year-old may indeed be giving up the grueling event for good.

Speaking at the ongoing Singapore National Swimming Championships this week, where Schooling already won the 100m fly sprint, the Olympic gold medalist said, “I’ve raced the 200m fly for a very long time and I think I might be done with that race.”

Schooling earned an Olympic berth in the event back at the 2012 Olympic Games, where he finished 26th overall. Prior to that, he earned 200m fly bronze at the 2014 Asian Games followed by gold at 2015’s SEA Games. As a student-athlete at the University of Texas, Schooling earned 2 NCAA titles in the event, both as a lower classman.

However, in recent years Schooling has dropped the 200m fly as a rule. He was slated to swim it at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, as well as the 2017 World Championships, but bowed out of both.

“I am comfortable focusing on the shorter races. Sometimes you just have to transition, that is how the career goes. Michael (Phelps) stopped the 400m IM (individual medley) when he got older, and sometimes it’s just what you need to do,” Schooling told The Straits Times meet-side tonight.

By shorter races, Schooling is certainly including the 100m butterfly, the event in which he won Singapore’s sole Olympic gold medal. He indeed won the sprint tonight at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, clocking a modest 52.43 to take gold by just .16 ahead of the runner-up, Matthew Temple of Australia.

Of his performance tonight, Schooling told The Straits Times,  “I’d like to be a bit faster, but we are in hard training now and it’s my first long-course meet since the Worlds last year… I kind of dusted the cobwebs off (today).

“Physically, I am getting stronger; I’ve started getting my flexibility back – that’s something I lost in the past two years, lifting a lot of weights – and I’ve also lost some shoulder mobility.

“Although I don’t feel my explosiveness yet, I feel like my aerobic levels are great, I am not dragging around or dying (in the pool). I just got to keep working on it, get enough rest before the Asian Games and the speed will come.”

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Sherayne ang Wan Ling
5 years ago

If joe swims to his full potential,he can swim under 22 seconds for his 50m freestyle,which will win him the gold medal.

Sherayne ang Wan Ling
5 years ago

He does have a decent chance of winning the 50m freestyle at Asian games,looking at how fast he swim and sprints during his training!

Sherayne ang Wan Ling
5 years ago

It might be a wise decision for him to swim the 50m freestyle over the 200m fly,given that he is a fast sprinter and known to excel in shorter events.

Sherayne goh Wan Ling
5 years ago

Quite wasted for him to give up the 200m fly.he has consistently been doing a 1.56,which is in the World TOP 8.

Aaron Loh
5 years ago

With joe dropping the 200m fly,Zheng wen will be aiming to win it as it is his pet event.

Marcus Teo Jun jie
5 years ago

He needs to work on his endurance level and speed towards the end

Marcus Teo Jun jie
5 years ago

Feel that joe does have the talent and potential in the 200m fly.his 1.56 timing would have placed him among the World TOP 8

E Gamble
5 years ago

Joseph Schooling ain’t fooling nobody. He knew his fellow countryman was right on those heels in the 2 fly.

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Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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