Schooling: I Got My A** Handed to me

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Singaporean Olympic champ Joseph Schooling battled with former Bolles teammate Caeleb Dressel of the USA in the men’s 100 fly final on Saturday night. It was their big showdown in the long course pool after Dressel took down Schooling’s record at the 2017 NCAA Championships and they became the first 2 NCAA swimmers to break 44 seconds in the yards pool. At Worlds, Dressel nearly broke Michael Phelps’ World Record, winning the title in 49.86 to become the first man in textile to break 50 seconds. Schooling tied for 3rd with Great Britain’s James Guy, touching in a time of 50.83. He was 2 tenths shy of the silver, which was taken by Hungary’s Kristof Milak with a new Junior World Record time of 50.62.

“I’m pissed! Obviously disappointed, you know, added half a second, had a long finish, I’m just glad to get a medal really at that point.”

“It just wasn’t clicking, you take a long a** time off, like you take half a year off, you come back in December, January and that’s what you’re going to get. Eddie’s (Reese) been warning me about this. But that shows, I got to learn the hard way, and I’m glad I got my a** kicked, there’s no other way to say that. I got my a** handed to me, and by my standards, that’s pretty unacceptable but it is what it is, hats off to him.”

Despite being disappointing in his own performance, Schooling was still congratulatory towards Dressel for his success in the event. Schooling is up to the challenge of competing against Dressel, and it could become the next great butterfly rivalry in the sport.

“That (Dressel’s swim) was phenomenal, there’s really no words to describe how fast that is. He just does 50m free and he had a bunch of events before, so that makes it even more impressive.”

“Yeah absolutely (he’s going to make me go faster), every sport needs someone to push each other. Michael had (Ian) Thorpe, (Milorad) Cavic all these guys pushing him, and you know, not comparing Caeleb and my rivalry to that, but this sets us up to have an exciting couple years going into Tokyo.”

Dressel also echoed that even with the rivalry in the pool, he and Schooling are very good friends.

“It’s (the rivalry) hardly been fierce, I love Joe-Joe,” he said. “I think it started this year at NCAAs and it’s always fun racing him as he always brings his ‘A’ game. Tonight was a blast and I’m looking forward to the next couple of years.”

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American
6 years ago

I want nothing more than to see a dressel schooling rivalry in the 50, 100 free and 100 fly. Imagine if they were neck and neck in all those events I might poop my pants every race

Swimmer?
Reply to  American
6 years ago

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha!
21.15 Dressel 50 free. What is Schooling’s? 47.17 100 free Dressel. Schooling is like 48.7
100 fly Dressel 49.86 Schooling 50.39 and he’s not even in that shape now :/ Schooling gets his *** handed to him.

Pvdh
Reply to  American
6 years ago

lol Schooling will never be able to go with Caeleb in the sprint freestyles. 100 fly is even shaky

Buona
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

Dont talk big 1st. Dressel may not repeat such performance in 2019 worlds

Jay
6 years ago

No worries. Work harder and be more motivated. I am sure u will win gold again.

Swimmer?
Reply to  Jay
6 years ago

You were sure he would win gold in Budapest

jelly
6 years ago

Yea so at NCAAs when he says he was sick, you say that he should just admit he didn’t perform due to lack of training. Now he does admit it and you guys criticise him for what? comparing his and Caeleb’s rivalry to Michael and Cavic? Just because he had an off meet does not mean he won’t be back next year. He still is the second faster performer in a textile suit and no one can take away the fact that he’s won Olympic Gold

Jay
Reply to  jelly
6 years ago

Yup agree. Olympic Gold is not easy to achieve. The atmosphere is so stressful. It’s held every 4 years. No swimmers want to screw up at Olympics. I am sure he will be much stronger next year onwards.

crooked donald
Reply to  jelly
6 years ago

It’s always something. There is no rivalry with Dressel. He’s not even in the same conversation until he gets to at least within a half-body length. That’s like saying there’s a rivalry between Sjostrom and Emma McKeon, who was a half-second back. And that’s even if Schooling ever gets back to 50.39.

swimchi
6 years ago

This guy isn’t close to Phelps, and never will be. Prediction: Schooling never breaks the time Dressel just threw down.

Pvdh
Reply to  swimchi
6 years ago

Outside of Milak, I don’t see who can

jelly
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

Well both Eddie and Sergio think he can

Haters
6 years ago

If he was American I’m pretty sure there will be less hate lol

AvidSwimFan
Reply to  Haters
6 years ago

Nope. Even King who was an American hero at Rio, got a lot of hate after her interview at NCAAs. It took owning that, better interviews, and her performance in Budapest to win people back.

Also there are so many non-American swimmers with fans on including American ones on here.

Jake
6 years ago

Ball don’t lie. Training don’t lie.

crooked donald
Reply to  Jake
6 years ago

Schooling do lie.

Attila the Runt
6 years ago

Hilarious thing was Gold Medal Mel’s prediction that all that non-training rest was going to make Schooling faster.

Cate
Reply to  Attila the Runt
6 years ago

That only works for Phelps, it seems, comparing his London times to his Rio times.

Provel
Reply to  Cate
6 years ago

Phelps was also 31 years old

Pvdh
6 years ago

To be fair….so did everyone else lol

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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