Joseph Isaac Schooling was born on June 16, 1995, in Singapore, making him a fourth-generation Singaporean. He is the only child of May and Colin Schooling. May, originally from Perak, Malaysia, was a professional tennis player, while Colin, a businessman and former athlete, represented Singapore in hurdles, water polo, and softball. Schooling has Eurasian ancestry through his father, whose grand-uncle, Lloyd Valberg, was Singapore’s first Olympian at the 1948 Summer Olympics. Inspired by his grand-uncle, Joseph developed a passion for swimming early in life.

Education and Early Training
Schooling’s educational journey began at Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) and continued at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) before he moved to the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2009. In 2010, he began training under Sergio Lopez Miro, who later became Singapore’s national head coach. After graduating high school in 2014, Schooling enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he joined the Texas Longhorns swimming team, a prestigious collegiate program led by renowned coaches Eddie Reese and Kris Kubik.

Joseph Isaac Schooling – Singapore’s Flying Fish

Personal Information

• Full Name: Joseph Isaac Schooling
• Nickname: “Singapore’s Flying Fish”
• Born: 16 June 1995 (age 29), Singapore
• Height: 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
• Weight: 84 kg (185 lb)

Sport Information

• Sport: Swimming
• Specialized Strokes: Butterfly, Freestyle, Medley
• College Team: University of Texas, Austin
• Coaches: Sergio López Miró, Gary Tan, Eddie Reese, Kris Kubik (University of Texas)

Notable Achievements and Medal Record
Joseph Schooling is renowned for his success in competitive swimming, highlighted by his groundbreaking Olympic gold medal in the 100m butterfly at the 2016 Rio Olympics, marking Singapore’s first-ever Olympic gold. Schooling also holds multiple records and has earned medals in major competitions, including the SEA Games, Asian Games, and World Championships.

Rise to Prominence
Joseph Schooling’s swimming career took off when he qualified for the 2012 Olympics by winning the 200m butterfly at the 2011 SEA Games. He made history in 2014 by becoming the first Singaporean to win a swimming medal at the Commonwealth Games, securing silver in the 100m butterfly.

Asian Games Success
Schooling achieved a significant breakthrough at the 2014 Asian Games, winning gold in the 100m butterfly with a record time of 51.76 seconds. This victory marked Singapore’s first Asian Games gold medal in men’s swimming since 1982. He also won bronze in the 200m butterfly and silver in the 50m butterfly during the same event.

NCAA Achievements
During his collegiate career, Schooling excelled at the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships. He claimed two individual titles in 2015 (100 and 200-yard butterfly) and defended his titles in 2016, setting NCAA and US Open records. By the end of his collegiate career in 2017, he had amassed 12 NCAA titles, including 4 individual and 8 relay championships.

2016 Olympics Triumph
On August 12, 2016, Schooling made history at the Rio Olympics by winning the gold medal in the 100m butterfly, becoming Singapore’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist. His winning time of 50.39 seconds not only set an Olympic record but also broke multiple national and Asian records. This monumental achievement earned him a cash award of S$1 million under Singapore’s Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme.

Continued Success and Challenges
In subsequent competitions, Schooling continued to dominate. He won multiple gold medals at the 2017 SEA Games and successfully defended his 100m butterfly title at the 2018 Asian Games. However, his performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was disappointing, as he failed to qualify for the semi-finals in both the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle events.

Retirement and Future Endeavors
On April 2, 2024, Joseph Schooling announced his retirement from competitive swimming to focus on his swim school and other business ventures. His legacy as a pioneering athlete in Singaporean sports and his contributions to swimming will continue to inspire future generations.

Personal Life
Schooling faced personal challenges with the passing of his father, Colin, on November 18, 2021, after a battle with cancer. Despite these challenges, he remains a beloved figure in Singapore, celebrated for his achievements in the pool and his impact on the sporting community.