Joseph Schooling, Yip Pin Xiu have orchids named after them

SINGAPORE — Two orchids have been named after Joseph Schooling and Yip Pin Xiu for the two swimmers' gold medal-winning feats at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Both athletes were presented with the orchids on Monday (Aug 7) during a ceremony at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. They were also given a tour of the orchid laboratory where the orchid hybrids were raised.

Schooling’s orchid is called the Dendrobium Joseph Schooling, while Yip’s is named the Dendrobium Yip Pin Xiu.

Schooling won Singapore's first Olympic gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing first in the 100m butterfly event with a time of 50.39s.

Yip is a three-time Paralympic gold medallist. She won Singapore's first-ever Paralympics gold in Beijing in 2008, and clinched two more gold medals in Rio in 2016.

The Dendrobium Joseph Schooling is a "robust and free-flowering hybrid", according to a press release from the National Parks Board. The flowers have a firm texture and are about 4.5cm in width. 

The petals are yellow and slightly twisted while the sepals are greenish yellow. They are accompanied by a prominent lip that is green with light brownish purple tessellation.

Meanwhile, Yip’s orchid is a “vigorous and free-flowering” hybrid. Each flower measures about 6cm in width.

The sepals are white with a faint blush of purple while the white petals are infused with magenta. They are also complemented with a prominent bright purple lip.

“The Singapore Botanic Gardens is pleased to present these orchids to Ms Yip and Mr Schooling for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to Singapore’s world standing in the international sports arena,” said Singapore Botanic Gardens’ group director Nigel Taylor.

The Dendrobium Joseph Schooling and the Dendrobium Yip Pin Xiu will be housed in the Burkill Hall, which is inside the National Orchid Garden, till this Friday (Aug 11). Subsequently, they will go on display at the Celebrity Orchid Garden whenever they are in bloom.