SWIMMING NEWS - 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.
