Tokyo Olympics: Rio 2016 star Joseph Schooling aims to be more than Michael Phelps’ conqueror
- ‘In the pool I’ve got to be cocky. If you don’t think you’re the best, then you’re not going to be the best,’ says Rio gold medallist
- Modest out of the pool, 26-year-old unfazed by Tokyo star names or lack of fans – ‘My job is to swim as fast as possible’
Schooling beat American legend Michael Phelps in the 100-metre butterfly and shot into the celebrity stratosphere. He was showered with a massive cash prize from the Singaporean National Olympic Council, estimated at around US$740,000 and became one of the darlings of the Games.
“I’ve had, and am still having many conversations with my coach, Sergio Lopez (about it),” the 26-year-old Schooling told the Post via email. “(Lopez) is someone I have huge respect for. He made me understand that many people would define me as what I do in the pool, but at the same time the most important thing is what I think of myself as a person, and what my closest family and close friends define me as a person and not as a swimmer.”
Schooling’s overnight success, which included a lavish parade for being the city state’s first ever gold medallist, did have an impact, but he said time allowed him to process the event and separate Schooling the swimmer from Schooling the person.
