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Asian Games’ Arrival: Re-Live Schooling’s Rio Olympic Gold

Video courtesy of The Olympic Channel.

It’s been 2 years since Singaporean Joseph Schooling shocked the world by beating American icon Michael Phelps for Olympic gold in the men’s 100m butterfly race. Schooling rocked a monster personal best of 50.39 in Rio to break the previous Olympic Record of 50.58 set by Phelps back in Beijing.

Also monumental in the Rio race was the fact that there was a 3-way tie among Phelps and 2 of his biggest international rivals in South Africa’s Chad Le Clos and Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh. All 3 men touched in 51.14 for silver, giving Schooling the largest margin of victory in the men’s 100m fly since Mark Spitze won the race at the 1972 Olympics.

Although Schooling’s gold brought him the biggest monetary Olympic bonus in the world, the now-23-year-old former Texas Longhorn swimmer has struggled to find his form since Rio. He settled for bronze in Budapest in the 100m fly event behind former Bolles teammate Caeleb Dressel and Hungary’s rising star Kristof Milak, while he has dropped the 200m fly race all together.

Within NCAA action as a Longhorn, although Schooling proved to be a crucial relay member in his final 2 years, the Singaporean was unable to reproduce his individual titles from 2015 and 2016 when he won both the 100m and 200m fly events in back-to-back championships.

Nevertheless, Schooling now says he is back to his ‘fighting weight’ is ‘excited to feel his Rio stroke again.’ (The New Paper) With that in mind, all eyes will be on the Asian superstar as he battles against the likes of China’s Li Zhuhao and Japan’s Yuki Kobori in his pet 100m fly event Jakarta this week.

Schooling is also expected to race the 100m free and 50m fly, in addition to relays.

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PowerPlay
6 years ago

The guy outperformed all the stars on the sports biggest stage. Happy to see him get paid for that and look forward to future performances. A great talent and competitor.

25 free champ
6 years ago

Don’t forget the other 8 Gold medals he won in practice that year. 🙂 Surpassing Phelps in so many ways in Rio. JK.

Love to Swim
6 years ago

Primary school children know about this. Do you have a point to make?

Love to Swim
6 years ago

Just found out Asian Games have FIVE live channels on YouTube and it doesn’t seem to be geofenced as well.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7oWYw9vZbkDwCi81hJpZTQ

Finally a sporting event that actually uses 21st century cast tech.

Holy water
6 years ago

India has swimmers?

Caeleb Dressel Will Win 9 Gold Medals in Tokyo
6 years ago

He gets too much hate. He still has the potential to be 49 imo. I don’t think it will happen today of course, but maybe in Tokyo

Anon

I think the reason he gets a lot of hate is because he comes off as arrogant and honestly just not a great person. If that is true, I can not say. But if his interviews are a glimpse at his personality, I would assume these accusations are true.

Jmanswimfan
Reply to  Anon
6 years ago

Lilly King is arrogant and adored. Schooling hate comes from people hopping on Caelebs jock and being shocked Phelps lost

How much does CD bench
6 years ago

He will be 51 high. It’s ok though since he was 49.9 last week in practice in a drag suit

Lpman
Reply to  How much does CD bench
6 years ago

Yes. I love it. Keep em coming

Swimmer
Reply to  How much does CD bench
6 years ago

One hit wonder.

Jem
6 years ago

Well he does seem a lot less pudgy these days judging from local press photos in Singapore and his social media account…

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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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