“We had breakfast – my family and (close friend) Zhen Ren’s family, my godparents, my cousins, and my nanny”, he said.
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SINGAPORE’s Joseph Schooling received star treatment at Changi International Airport this morning upon his return from Rio 2016 where he clinched the island-nation’s first Olympic gold. “I noticed the name sounded familiar and the announcers kept saying he was a Longhorn so I looked back through my Tinder matches and found out it was him”, Salazar was quoted as saying in a report in DailyMail.
Singapore’s first Olympic medal was won by homegrown weightlifter Tan Howe Liang, who bagged a silver in Rome in 1960. He beat his idol in the 100-meter butterfly to deliver the first ever Olympic gold medal for the city-state of 5.54 million.
Joseph Schooling’s victory lap has only just begun.
Schooling said Phelps “is the reason why I wanted to be a better swimmer”. But Schooling, who was photographed with Phelps as a 13-year-old, stepped out of line in the 100m butterfly, spoiling the USA legend’s all-win record in Rio. “This is not just for me, but for all of you”, Schooling said in a brief speech before wading into the crowd of some 500 people including an global media contingent.
Schooling was on Phelps’s radar after breaking NCAA collegiate and US Open butterfly records swimming for Texas, and earning world championships bronze in Russian Federation a year ago.
The American Phelps, who was gunning for his fourth gold medal in Rio and 23rd overall, came in second tied with swimmers from South Africa and Hungary. “That goes well with me”, he said.
“I just want to catch some ZZZs right now, but maybe I’ll hang out with my parents in my alone time”, the only child said.
Not only is Schooling a good role model, he’s also a little wealthier now too. His winning time of 50.39 seconds is a true milestone since it is an Olympic, Asian and national record.
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