Star in the making

SINGAPORE — As the world-class swimmers geared up for this weekend’s Prudential Singapore Swim Stars at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, they were forthcoming when asked questions about the one swimmer who will not be competing in the inaugural edition of this swimming showcase: Joseph Schooling.

Yesterday at the Marina Bay Sands, three of the stars met the media and had high praise for Singapore-born Schooling, who broke through last month for his first medal against world-class opposition, finishing second behind Olympic and world champion Chad le Clos in the 100m butterfly at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

American Nathan Adrian, who counts the 100m freestyle gold among the three he has won in two Olympic outings, thinks 19-year-old Schooling has a bright future.

“It’s weird to think that he’s been in high school up till now,” said Adrian of the Singaporean rising star.

“I consider him an international competitor … and that is testament to how great he’s done so far.

“The sky’s the limit for that guy.”

Having spent his formative years at the Bolles School in Florida under the charge of Spanish coach Sergio Lopez, Schooling is certainly one to watch on the world stage as he starts his collegiate career this month at the University of Texas.

Former 50m breaststroke world champion Jessica Hardy, who swam for University of California, Berkeley, agrees the Singaporean teenager is a true talent, and that Asians are not physically disadvantaged.

Said Hardy: “I think it’s exposure to the training style and a mental confidence and belief in yourself.

“It’s about finding that mental switch and the more we can expose (swimmers) to that the more impact it’ll hopefully have.”

Hardy and Adrian are among the more than 40 swim stars, including Lithuanian prodigy Ruta Meilutyte, who will feature at this weekend’s “straight finals” event.

The line-up for the men’s 100m breaststroke, for example, pits 100m world record holder Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa against Britain’s Adam Peaty, who set a new 50m breaststroke record two weeks ago at the European Championships. Add Japan’s Olympic and world champion Kosuke Kitajima and Commonwealth 200m champion Ross Murdoch to the mix and fans can expect a real showdown.

Adrian gave his thumbs-up to the format which forces the swimmers to get down to business the second they step up to the block.

“It captures the essence of what swimming is about. It’s about racing,” he said. “It’s not about jockeying for a position because I think here the athletes are all accomplished.

“You seal your position in being invited in the first place, with a field that has world champions, Olympic champions, Pan Pacific medals.”

Stephan Caron, co-founder of Sports Swim Organisation which is organising the event, hopes to see a world record or two fall at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.

“We’ve got all the technical requirements in place to ensure any record set is official. The anti-doping and everything else (are all here) to make it an official world record,” he said.

As for whether fans here could see a Singaporean invited on merit for this showcase event in the future, Adrian thinks any country should have the capability of producing champion swimmers, even Singapore which places a great emphasis on academic excellence.

“(It’s about) creating an environment of success in sports and school,” he said. “I understand that the academic side of things, that the expectations are extremely high here, and that’s fair. But you can do both at a high level.

“You can train hard and you can focus on swimming and you can swim fast while getting good grades. I did, so I think people can do it here.”

Singapore Swim Stars

Fri 5 Sep, 7pm start

OCBC Aquatic Centre

Tickets: $60-$90 at www.sportshubtix.sg, Singapore Indoor Stadium box office and all SingPost outlets.