Joseph Schooling publishes book on his life this year

SINGAPORE — National swimmer and Olympic champion Joseph Schooling has come out with a book that not only documents his momentous swimming journey over the past year but also features 60 previously unpublished images of his life.

Titled “Hello, my name is Joseph Schooling”, the 96-page book, published by Pen International, was produced by veteran photojournalists Alvin Toh and Tay Kay Chin, former Singapore Swimming Association marketing communications director Mohd Hafidz Ja’afar — who is now the Schooling family’s media and commercial representative — and May Schooling, Joseph’s mother.

All the photos in the book were taken by Toh.

The 45-year-old, who headed TODAY’s photo team from 2000 to 2004, was given exclusive access to Joseph and his family in Singapore and the United States, where the swimmer is based, since the start of the year. Accompanying the photos are comments and observations made by Joseph in past interviews with the media.

Joseph created history at the Rio Olympics last month when he won the 100m butterfly final in 50.39sec, beating Michael Phelps, Chad le Clos and Laszlo Cseh, who all finished joint-second.

He returned to Singapore to a hero’s welcome, was honoured in Parliament and also went on a victory parade which saw thousands of Singaporeans lining the streets to cheer him on.

According to May, 5,000 copies of the book are being printed for the first run. They will go on sale at S$24.90 each at selected bookstores next week.

She said the book also aims to inspire other Singaporeans to follow their dreams, as well as encourage young kids to read.

“Joseph won an Olympic gold medal for Singapore, but it doesn’t just stop there,” she told TODAY.

“’The Schooling effect’ is already in motion, and we hope that his story will inspire every kid to follow his or her dream, and not give up without a fight.

The book will be officially launched at the end of October. May added that Joseph, a second-year undergraduate at the University of Texas in Austin, will be holding a book-signing session when he comes back in November.

Joseph wrote on Facebook on Thursday (Sept 29) that he was still learning to cope with being in the media spotlight.

“A big part of being an athlete means accepting the fact that I will always be scrutinised, in and out of the pool,” the 21-year-old wrote.

“Having a photographer tailing me for an extended period of time is something I am still trying to get used to, but I believe and hope that these previously unseen images of me, and of the people dear to me, will bring all of us closer together.”

Toh said he enjoyed working on the book with his team but added that he is still not used to seeing his name featured next to Joseph’s on the book cover.

“After all, it’s not about me, it’s about him,” he said.