It was reported earlier this week that Joseph Schooling, Teo Zhen Ren and Roanne Ho were all given a letter of warning by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) for breaking the national team’s code of conduct at the Asian Games.
It was reported in different publications that the three had gone out drinking and that was the reason they were given the warning, when in actuality this was not the case. May Schooling, Joseph’s mother, made sure that the swimmers’ side of the story was made public.
The three athletes were given a warning because it was against the code of conduct to leave the athlete’s village without the permission of the team’s officials, not for any other action. In May Schooling’s letter she outlined that the three athletes simply left the village for a meal. The only reason that they did this is that the dining hall in the village was closed.
The issue was that it was at 3 am and the three did not check with team officials before they left. The three said the reason they did this was because they did not want to wake them at that hour of the morning. Upon returning they happened upon some team members and officials leaving for the airport, which is how their trip out of the village was brought to light.
All of these facts were confirmed by SNOC secretary-general Chris Chan. Chan also expressed the council’s thoughts on the matter with increased clarity, “(The council) was convinced that there was no unruly behaviour from any of the three athletes … nor were they drunk as earlier alleged by the misinformed media,” Chan told the publication TODAY.
Along with bringing the facts of the incident to the public eye May Schooling stated that she felt that the young athletes she be supported rather than having their reputations tarnished, “The three swimmers involved are very young and we should be looking after and helping them, rather than destroy them at the start of their (careers),” Schooling told TODAY.
in Singapore Spring break lasts 3 hours , 2 of which are spent paying respects to Tiger Mum & GrandTigerMum & GreatGrandTigerMum & the rest of the time a special visit to the shrine of GreatGreatGrandTigerMum.
You break your national’s Code Of Conduct, whether you did or did not you drank alcohol, or you went out to eat dinner, etc you should be punished. Simple as that. They have the rules for a reason.
***There, Schooling was recognised by some people who offered him a congratulatory toast for his medal-winning performance, which he accepted “out of courtesy”.***
So… he was out of the village after hours, and he did have alcohol. But he didn’t?
haha yeah saw that too. perhaps it was french toast.
I think maybe it’s because he didn’t get drunk that it was okay. And in Singapore, the drinking age is 18 I think
Look- I couldn’t care less about a kid having a drink after a meets over when he’s of legal age… some of the top US athletes have done worse. But the fact is he DID have a drink, he DID go out past curfew, so he should get some kind of slap on the wrist.
I thought it was quite clear in the earlier articles that the kids didn’t really do anything bad- just snuck out for a bite to eat and it was made very clear that they weren’t drunk.
But mommy sounds like she’s saying the didn’t do ANYTHING wrong… but it’s very clear that they did.
So… whatever. If anyone thinks that college freshman haven’t had… Read more »
The funny part is I had quite literally forgotten about this not even a month later. He is at Texas and all thoughts of him were about how he’s settling in and how he can impact the NCAA meet.
But since his mom needed to clear his name so badly… I will forever think of him as a delinquent troublemaker with a penchant for breaking the rules 😉