Asian Games: Joseph Schooling wins Singapore's first gold in Indonesia in the 100m butterfly

JAKARTA — He flew into the swimming pool wall at the Gelora Bung Karno Aquatics Centre and immediately turned around, eager to see the number just beside his name. There was unbridled joy, and a triumphant fist pump, as Joseph Schooling saw the number one, for it meant that the 23-year-old had just clinched Singapore’s first gold – in the men’s 100m butterfly – at the 2018 Asian Games.

There was also relief for the defending champion, as the monkey was finally off his back after enduring an “up and down two years” in the pool.

“I was glad to see number one… I definitely wanted to be the first person to give everyone a chance to hear our national anthem, so having done that I feel very proud, very happy, mission accomplished for today,” said Schooling after the victory ceremony on Wednesday (Aug 22).

“I feel relief and joy, it’s my first individual final, obviously I was a little nervous, and I’m happy things turned out the way it did.”

Bursting out of the starting blocks, Schooling claimed the lead from the get-go, never letting up as he stormed home in a new Asian Games record time of 51.04sec to clinch the gold. His new mark shaved 0.72sec off his previous record of 51.76sec during the 2014 Asian Games.

China’s Li Zhuhao won the silver in 51.46sec, while Yuki Kobori of Japan claimed the bronze after clocking 51.77sec. Team Singapore swimmer Quah Zheng Wen finished fourth in a time of 52.54sec.

Victory in his pet event at the Asian Games was also Schooling’s first at a major Games since his 2016 Olympic gold medal triumph in Rio de Janeiro, and last year’s SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

The United States-based swimmer admitted that the last two years have been far from perfect, adding that “it’s part of the cycle, you can’t always be in tip top performance”.

“What’s important is if you’re not feeling your best, step up, grind it through and try to win your race, that’s what defines a champion,” he said.

Critics took aim at the Singaporean swimmer after a disappointing 2017 and 2018 season which saw him lose the 100m fly gold to American swimmer Caeleb Dressel at the 2017 Fina World Championships, before he missed out on medals at the National Collegiate Athletic Association championships in March.

But Schooling said he is not affected by criticism, as he wants to prove critics wrong.

“Criticism is good, if everyone’s on your side and praising you, it might get to your head,” he said.

“This is a great check and balance for me, always proving my critics wrong. It gives me more motivation to go to practise to race harder so I can prove people wrong, that’s what I love doing.”

Schooling’s gold in the 100m fly is his third medal at the Asian Games.

After winning the 100m fly gold, he was back in the pool with teammates Quah, Darren Chua and Darren Lim, as the men’s 4x100m freestyle quartet won the bronze in a new national record time of 3min 17.22sec.

Schooling had won a bronze in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay on Monday night.

With three medals in four events, Schooling will be gunning for a fourth when he returns to the pool on Thursday morning for the 50m butterfly heats in a bid to better his silver medal from the 2014 Asian Games.

He will also compete in the men’s 4x100m medley relay a day later.

As he turns his focus to his professional career after graduating from the University of Texas at the end of the year, Schooling said that he plans to compete in more pro swim circuits in the US and Europe.

Singapore fans will also be happy to hear that the swimmer intends to compete in the Fina Swimming World Cup in the Republic.

But the goal for Schooling is the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as he added: “The Asian Games is just another stepping stone…it’s one of the building years to do what I want to do in Tokyo.

“I’m happy with where I’m at, definitely in a lot better shape than I was last year and I can keep building on that.”

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu was in Jakarta to support Team Singapore at the Games, and she said: “Today was a great day for Team Singapore.”

She noted how besides the two medals in the pool, Singapore’s female bowlers had also won a bronze in the women’s trios.

“We are glad to see more of our young talents working hard to attain new peaks in their sporting careers,” she said.

“Our athletes inspire all of us with their grit and determination to do better each time, and I hope Singaporeans back home will come together to cheer on our athletes as One Team Singapore!”

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