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Schooling: “Hopefully It Changes All of Sporting Culture in Singapore”

2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

After his gold-medal finish ahead of the silver-medal-tying Chad le Clos, Michael Phelps, and Laszlo Cseh, Singapore’s Joseph Schooling hopes that his gold medal has had and effect on the culture of athletics in his country.

“It means a lot [for Singapore],” he said after the race. “That was a tough road. A lot of pressure. You have to learn how to manage that. It wasn’t easy. I’m blessed and privileged and thankful I could accomplish the things I have wanted to. I hope this paves a new road for sports in Singapore. I hope it shows that people from the smallest countries in the world can do extraordinary things. Hopefully, it changes all of sporting culture in Singapore.”

Schooling also emphasized the importance of the people who supported him along the way to his Olympic gold.

“It’s crazy. It still hasn’t sunk in. I think I need a couple of days, I need to chill by myself and digest what has happened. It’s really an honour and privilege to race against Chad, Michael, and Laszlo . This race means more to my family and my friends and those people who supported me. I did this for them. When you race for people bigger than yourself, I think it means a lot to accomplish what you wanted to.”

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Beachbumj343
8 years ago

America is the land of opportunity and every one should be welcome to come here to better themselves but if a person is going to do that they should at least have the respect for the country that they are living in, going to school in, working in, training in, etc and represent that country that has given them so much.

monsterbasher
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

What? What article are you reading?

Beachbumj343
Reply to  monsterbasher
8 years ago

This article! Joseph has lived in US for years. Gone to high school. Going to college here. Trains here! He does everything in here in the states!

monsterbasher
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

Your point is? Are you saying he should be an american citizen or something?

Beachbumj343
Reply to  monsterbasher
8 years ago

Many athletes and people become Citizens of the country they LIVE IN. I mean it’s common sense If a person lives and trains in a country for years and years and years they should represent in that country. It’s because of that country and living there and training there and they are able to do those wonderful things

monsterbasher
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

By that logic Taylor ruck should be american. Santo also and maybe the 100 other athletes who train at universities here.

Beachbumj343
Reply to  monsterbasher
8 years ago

It’s not logic. Just common sense. If a person is going to live and work or go to school or train at a country for most of their life then they owe that country by representing them. He wouldn’t have done such a amazing job if it wasn’t because of everything he got here in the US.

Look up the US kayaker. He’s in his early 20s. I’m sorry. I forgot his name. He moved here with his parents from Poland when he was 9 or so. He could have represented Poland in 2012 yet he deferred and waited til 2016 since he became US CItizen late 2012. He wanted to represent the USA since they were reason he… Read more »

PsychoDad
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

But, I bet if an American kayaker goes to live in Poland and after 5 years represents Poland, you will call him a traitor.

CROOKED HILLARY
Reply to  PsychoDad
8 years ago

I think that’s exactly the opposite of what he’s saying.

Pau Hana
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

so you’re saying Schooling is not a good person?

Ed P
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

Maybe he didn’t want to become a citizen? Maybe he’s got a permanent resident card and he’s good with that? Maybe he’s only on a sporting visa and not a permanent resident? Who are you to judge him and his home country?

Cate
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

No, it’s because of JOSEPH SCHOOLING that he is able to do those things.

Just Another Opinion
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

I’ve read a lot of stupid comments during these Olympics, but your stance on this issue wins the gold medal.

NEWTOSWIMSWAM
Reply to  monsterbasher
8 years ago

He specifically gave thanks to those who supported him, which I suppose include schools he went/goes to in the US.

Rip Your Face Off
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

Grow up. It’s funny how the same people never complain when the USMNT wins a game, when a bunch of their players (Brooks, Dempsey, Pulisic, etc) play (or have played) overseas ..

:-/

Beachbumj343
Reply to  Rip Your Face Off
8 years ago

I’m not family with those people but yes if a person lives and works and trains and uses taxpayers dollars for their training facilities then they should represent the country that has given them so much.

Beachbumj343
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

Meant familiar not family.

PsychoDad
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

Nobody give anything to anyone for free. “the country that has given them so much” figured out how they can benefit from an athlete practicing in their school/country. And, again, taxpayers pay $0 for swimming scholarships or training cost, at biggest schools at least.

Yada
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

Your taxpayer dollars argument has been thoroughly debunked on other threads. UT athletics does not use a single taxpayer dollar for their facilities, coaches salaries, or scholarships. Shut up

Rip Your Face Off
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

Huh?

The facilities that American soccer players use when they play overseas aren’t paid for by Americans either!

And in case if you haven’t gotten it by now, European leagues feature the best players in the world, where Americans train and compete with.

You’re still digging yourself in to a deeper hole. Keep digging – it looks like you’re not quite done yet

Cate
Reply to  Beachbumj343
8 years ago

Schooling is paying his own way here, or rather his parents are. I am not sure where you get that he is using taxpayer dollars. Your grasp of economics escapes me.

NEWTOSWIMSWAM
8 years ago

*a good day

NEWTOSWIMSWAM
8 years ago

Very happy for him and Singapore, a good for our sport globally! Also class act to give credit to people who support him! Congrats to Bolles: golds by Murphy (also WR!) and Schooling – what a week! Still remember the years when both Schooling and Murphy were on the same HS team! I need to double check, but do believe two of them now own US’s HS and NCAA fly and back records, respectively, not to mention those insane record-setting relays!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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