Award Banner
Award Banner

'What are the expectations that our athletes are facing?' Joseph Schooling calls for 'national dialogue' on national service

'What are the expectations that our athletes are facing?' Joseph Schooling calls for 'national dialogue' on national service
Swimmer Joseph Schooling highlighted the need to manage the expectations of athletes who are undergoing NS.
PHOTO: The Straits Times

HANOI - Swimmer Joseph Schooling on Wednesday (May 18) called for a "national dialogue" on national service (NS), highlighting the need to manage the expectations of athletes who are undergoing NS.

The 26-year-old, who enlisted in January, was speaking to media at the My Dinh Water Sports Palace in Hanoi on Wednesday, a day after he wrapped up his SEA Games campaign with two golds and a bronze.

This was his lowest haul at the biennial meet — though he competed in only four events - after winning four golds and two silvers at the 2019 edition, six golds in 2017, nine golds in 2015, six golds in 2013 and 2-1-1 on his debut in 2011.

Responding to The Straits Times' question on how he has been juggling NS and swimming, Schooling said: "As a swimmer, it's pretty challenging to be stuck in the middle of what the nation expects you to be... versus the things that you can commit to in terms of training requirements or the time needed to do the things that you need to do."

He added: "I think it's about time we had a national dialogue, we all sat down together and discussed, what are the expectations that our athletes are facing as they're serving national service?"

Stressing that NS "is something that everyone needs to do", he said: "At the end of the day, I'm gonna step up there and do my best no matter if I'm in the shape I am or not. But as the people watching on TV, they have a lot of expectations... we as athletes we want to match those expectations."

"So it's all about how we can both grow together and how sporting achievements can coincide.

"And I think we're on the right track — we just need to sit down, ask some tough questions. It's going to be rough, but I think we're going to come out on the right side at the end of the day."

Read Also
SEA Games: Joseph Schooling claims gold in 100m butterfly
singapore
SEA Games: Joseph Schooling claims gold in 100m butterfly

In previous interviews, the 2016 Olympic champion had also talked about the challenges of balancing his NS and training commitments — an issue that other local sportsmen have also experienced in their careers.

Last month, Schooling told The Straits Times that he had "actually retired for a few hours" before the Singapore National Age Group Championships a month earlier, citing "existential circumstances" as the reason.

While there has been plenty of speculation about his future in the pool, the swimmer is still holding off on a final decision for now.

He had previously hinted in reports that this could be his last SEA Games, but said yesterday: "I'm not ready to be done for sure but what I know is we need a plan...

"Hopefully in the next week or two, we'll understand what I can do given the current circumstances versus what's realistic as well."

Factors such as the availability of meets like the Asian Games, which was scheduled for September but has since been postponed to next year, would determine how long he continues to swim competitively.

He added: "You don't want to keep postponing things, this is just the start of my future. Swimming has been great, it's given me a lot of things, opened a lot of doors, it's time to live life."

Schooling, who failed to retain his Olympic gold in the 100m fly in Tokyo last August, insisted that he has not lost the motivation to swim.

"I swim to see how good I can be, I swim because I actually enjoy what swimming teaches me. Swimming is one thing, but how you are as a person... I think that's more important to me.

"That's what people remember you for, not how many gold medals you win, but what kind of person you are."

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction. 

homepage

trending

trending
    Man allegedly refuses to pay for $10k damage to rented BMW, says he only has $10
    Val Kilmer, star of Batman Forever, dies at 65, NYT reports
    'Irresponsible parents': Man flips middle finger at driver after near accident with child at City Hall
    GrabCab becomes Singapore's 6th taxi operator, plans to launch '100% green fleet'
    'There are more lives we can save', says SCDF team leader on rescue efforts in Myanmar
    We ask parents how they keep their children's screen time low - here's the lowdown
    Ruckus on Jetstar flights: One passenger tries to open door mid-air, another fights with fellow passenger
    Korean man leaps across damaged 52nd-floor skybridge of Bangkok condo to find family during quake
    'I'm a fool': Japanese comedian apologises after sexually harassing Mei Nagano to tears on TV
    Deepal officially arrives in Singapore with opening of new showroom
    'Don't cheat, don't be greedy': Elderly couple in their 90s share secret to longevity with DPM Heng in viral clip
    'The menu is a reflection of us': Singaporean woman and American husband open restaurant selling soul food

Singapore

Singapore
    • 5 SMCs gone in GE2025: What's next and what are their MPs saying?
    • 'We need some closure for now': KF Seetoh's brother's remains to be returned following Italy blast
    • Close to a million Singaporean households to receive U-Save and S&CC rebates in April
    • GE2025: Do former civil servants make good politicians? Analysts weigh in
    • Singaporean girl, 15, who wanted to fight for ISIS is first female teen to be given ISA restriction order
    • Sports car driver allegedly high on laughing gas arrested on Orchard Road
    • 'World came crashing down': Former Envy director and family invested more than $40m in nickel scam
    • Passenger charged after allegedly threatening to kill crew member, disrupting flight to Singapore
    • Housing market showing early signs of price growth moderation: Desmond Lee
    • Laughing gas abuse among young people in Singapore a concern: Medical experts

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • 'I'll help her remember': Show Lo reveals mum has Alzheimer's disease
    • 'It was mentally draining': Yang Yan reflects on his time in global K-pop reality competition
    • 'To my best friend and soulmate, here's to forever': Desmond Ng to marry longtime girlfriend
    • Kim Sae-ron's family reveals text messages allegedly showing Kim Soo-hyun dated her when she was underaged
    • Keanu Reeves to reprise role in John Wick 5
    • 'I want to make the people in my country proud': Local singer WhyLucas reaches Chuang Asia season 2 finals
    • David Beckham kicks off 50th birthday celebrations with glitzy party in Miami
    • Camila Cabello felt 'crushed' after accusations of emulating Charli XCX's style
    • Elon Musk open to finding out if he's father of Ashley St Clair's child
    • Driver in fatal hit-and-run with Shaun Chen's father surrenders to police

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Life after death: Guide to be launched to help parent caregivers plan for autistic children's future
    • Tea, drums and rangoli: These stewards of culture and heritage are being honoured for preserving tradition in Singapore
    • 7 Singapore restaurants make Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list
    • RWS unveils lifestyle destination Weave, here are some brands and concept stores to expect
    • Long-range cruiser: GAC E9 luxury MPV with over 1,000km of range now in Singapore
    • The best new-launch condo layouts we've seen so far in 2025
    • Where to find 999-year landed homes by the sea in Singapore: Touring Ponggol 24th Avenue
    • 'Not on my bucket list': Tan Jianhao carries daughter down 21 storeys of Bangkok hotel amid tremors
    • How to set boundaries between your kids and relatives
    • 'My skin is nice': Raising awareness for children with rare skin conditions

Digicult

Digicult
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Games in April: RPGs, racing and Ronaldo in a fighting game
    • Is it time to get a MacBook at a good price? The M4 MacBook Air says yes
    • China's Baidu launches 2 new AI models as industry competition heats up
    • China's top universities expand enrolment to beef up capabilities in AI, strategic areas
    • International Women's Day: Meet the Singapore women levelling up in gaming
    • US indicts slew of alleged Chinese hackers, sanctions company over spy campaign
    • Meet the women powering innovation in tech in Singapore and beyond
    • Games in March: JRPGs, co-op games and wrestling

Money

Money
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • With 61 years left on its lease, this Bishan maisonette matches national record at $1.5m
    • Why are homebuyers choosing pricier new launch 2-bedders over resale options in 2025?
    • Looking to live near JB? Here are the cheapest condos by the Causeway in Woodlands
    • Where to find the most affordable HDB flats in popular estates in 2025 (from $250k)
    • 7 affordable dental clinics in Singapore for scaling, polishing, and more (2025)
    • Condo resale trends for February 2025: Demand surge despite mixed price movements
    • UOB rejects allegations of improper conduct made by ex-CEO of former client Yang Kee Logistics
    • Trump Organisation eyes multi-billion-dollar projects in Vietnam amid tariff risks
    • 5 HDB flats with good unblocked views above 1,000 sq ft

Latest

Latest
  • China carries out live fire drills in East China Sea in escalation of Taiwan exercises
  • Myanmar junta should widen access for earthquake rescuers, aid and rights groups say
  • Trump to escalate global trade tensions with new reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners
  • Thai woman struggles to evacuate during earthquake while her dog sleeps unfazed
  • 'Red glow moving around': Scores in hospital after huge fire at gas pipeline in Malaysia
  • South Korea's acting president urges calm, tighter security ahead of impeachment ruling
  • After Le Pen ruling, accusations of 'lawfare' land in France
  • France proposes ban on Paris FC fan group due to violence
  • Russia says it cannot accept US proposals on Ukraine 'in current form'

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Woman who publicised tips on how she evaded GST for luxury purchases fined $18k
  • Powerful quake in Southeast Asia kills several, 81 trapped in Bangkok building rubble
  • Dog dies after being skinned alive in Malaysia, animal welfare group condemns 'barbaric' act
  • Blue for seafood, red for meat: Case partners Koufu to have colour-coded price labels at 'cai fan' stalls
  • WP will campaign for 'responsible and loyal opposition' in GE2025 to earn seats in Parliament, says Pritam
  • Over $200k worth of e-vaporisers seized; 2 persons helping with investigations
  • More than 2 million Singaporeans eligible to vote in next election
  • 'Mocking rape survivor offensive and dangerous': Law Society vice-president's remarks on Wah!Banana actor's case draw outrage
  • Job ad for nun with offer of $5,000 to $11,000 monthly salary pulled after 3 days
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.