One nerve-wracking moment, one surprise gesture, and then a memory to last a lifetime

SINGAPORE — Apart from thrilling the students, teachers, staff and canteen stall owners at Anglo-Chinese School Junior, newly-minted Olympic champion Joseph Schooling also made two boys’ day - one directly and another indirectly.

Primary Three student Darion Pang was selected on Tuesday morning (Aug 16) to go on stage to present a bouquet of flowers to May, Schooling’s mother.

But after the nine-year-old nervously completed his task, and was about to do an about-turn and depart from the stage, Schooling stopped him from leaving.

Putting his hand into his pocket, Schooling took out his Olympic gold medal and asked Darion if he would like to wear it.

A stunned Darion looked back at Schooling, and nodded.

To the cheers of the crowd, Schooling put his Olympic gold medal around Darion’s neck, and then both he and May posed for photos with the boy.

“It was very nerve-wrecking and exciting to get to hold and wear the gold medal,” Darion told reporters after that.

“He (Schooling) asked me if I wanted to wear it and that’s the really exciting part. I was very happy to see him today.”

But Darion ensured that he was not the only ACSJ student that got to wear the medal.

After taking it off, Darion then passed the medal to schoolmate Marcus Lim, who was also on stage then to hand out a token of appreciation to the Schoolings.

Marcus took the medal, and beamed as he wore it.

“This was really unexpected and exciting,” said Marcus, a Primary Four student and school swimmer.

“Joseph has inspired me to train harder and I hope to achieve what he has done in the future.”

Marcus was not the only one who was thrilled by the experience.

His mother, Mavis Han, wrote on TODAY Sports’ Facebook page: “Is that my Son Marcus Lim? OMG! I can’t believe my shy boy was picked. LOL. I think I’m more starstruck than him.”

She later added: “So cute! That boy shared the medal with my son!”