Singapore's only Olympic champion Joseph Schooling retires from swimming
The Rio 2016 gold medallist, who broke Michael Phelps' men's 100m butterfly Olympic record en route to victory, has not competed since the 2022 Southeast Asian Games.
Swimming
Joseph Schooling, the only Singaporean to have won an Olympic gold medal, announced his retirement from competitive swimming on Tuesday (2 April).
In a post on Instagram, the 28-year-old, who won the men's 100m butterfly final at Rio 2016, said: "Today marks the beginning of a new chapter.
"While I am stepping away from competing, swimming will forever be a part of who I am. It has given me a platform to inspire others to chase their dreams, no matter the odds.
"I am eager to explore new passions, face different challenges, and see where this next phase of life takes me."
While this marks Schooling's official retirement, he has not competed since the Southeast Asian Games, held in Vietnam in May 2022.
Joseph Schooling in recent years: Military service and a drugs suspension
Schooling set a then-Olympic record 50.39 in winning gold in Rio, breaking his childhood hero Michael Phelps' previous record. Phelps, László Cseh, and Chad le Clos tied for silver in a memorable race.
However, Schooling struggled after the end of his successful college career at Texas in 2017, and never quite hit the same highs.
At the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021, Schooling did not qualify out of the heats in either the 100m butterfly or the 100m freestyle.
Since then, Schooling's competition time had been hampered by his national service requirements.
He was allowed to compete while serving in the Singapore Navy, but these privileges were revoked after he was found to have used cannabis during the 2022 SEA Games – although he did not fail any anti-doping controls. Aside from being a prohibited substance in competition under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, cannabis (and other forms of drug use) is banned under Singapore law.
He ends his career with one Olympic gold, two world championships bronzes, seven Asian Games medals including three golds, a Commonwealth Games silver, and 34 SEA Games medals (29 golds).
Tributes to Schooling's career
Following Schooling's announcement, the Singapore National Olympic Committee posted on Instagram: "It’s been an unforgettable journey with you, Joseph. May your next chapters be as awe-inspiring and meaningful as the ones you gave us."
Singapore's national swimming federation, Singapore Aquatics, added: "For 50.39 seconds, you made a nation stand still. In 50.39 seconds, you helped show the world that 'people from small countries can do extraordinary things'. In 50.39 seconds, you rewrote Singapore and Olympic history. Thank you, Joseph Schooling, for the years and countless hours of toiling in the pool."
The national body for the development of sport in the island state, Sport Singapore, chimed in: "You have flown Singapore flag high on the world’s stage. Your achievements brought remarkable celebrations as the nation united together as one cheering you on."