On Tuesday, April 2, Joseph Schooling announced his retirement from competitive swimming. He is the only Singaporean to have ever won an Olympic gold medal.
The gold medallist from Rio 2016 hasn’t participated since the Southeast Asian Games in 2022. He won the men’s 100-meter butterfly Olympic record. This achievement broke Michael Phelps’ record.
The 28-year-old, who placed first in the men’s 100-meter butterfly final at Rio 2016, wrote on Instagram: “Today is the start of a new era. Even though I’m giving up competition, swimming will always be a part of who I am. It has provided me with a platform to encourage people to follow their aspirations despite all obstacles. I can’t wait to pursue new interests, take on new challenges, and discover where this next stage of my life leads.”
Although Schooling has officially retired, he hasn’t competed since the Southeast Asian Games. The Games took place in May 2022 and were hosted in Vietnam.
Exploring Joseph Schooling’s Recent Path: Military Service and Drugs Suspension
After winning gold in Rio, Schooling broke the record held by his childhood idol Michael Phelps with a time of 50.39. In an unforgettable race, Phelps, László Cseh, and Chad le Clos tied for silver.
But Schooling never quite reached the same heights after his stellar undergraduate career at Texas ended in 2017.
In the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter freestyle events, Schooling failed to advance past the heats in the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.
Since then, Schooling’s national service obligations had limited his time available for competition.
Despite not failing any anti-doping controls, he was determined to have used cannabis during the 2022 SEA Games. This resulted in the revocation of his competition privileges while serving in the Singapore Navy. World Anti-Doping Agency regulations forbid cannabis consumption, as well as other drug use, during competitions. Additionally, it is illegal in Singapore.
His career totals include: one gold from the Olympics, two bronzes from world championships, seven medals from the Asian Games, three golds from the Commonwealth Games, and thirty-four medals from the Southeast Asian Games. Among these, twenty-nine are gold medals.
Joseph Schooling’s Legacy: A Tribute to His Impactful Career
The Singapore National Olympic Committee sent a message on Instagram after Schooling made his statement, saying, “Joseph, it’s been an incredible ride. I hope the next chapters you write are just as amazing and profound as the ones you have wrote.”
“You made a nation stand still for 50.39 seconds,” continued Singapore Aquatics, the country’s swimming federation. 50.39 seconds later, you contributed to demonstrating to the world that ‘people from small countries can do remarkable things’. You changed the history of Singapore and the Olympics in 50.39 seconds. Joseph Schooling, I’m grateful for all the years and endless hours you spent working in the pool.”
“You have flown Singapore flag high on the world’s stage,” responded Sport Singapore, the national organization for the development of sport in the island state. The entire country came together to celebrate your accomplishments and cheer you on.
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