CAPAS, Tarlac -- Singapore's Joseph Schooling booked a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by finishing the men's 100m butterfly event at the Southeast Asian Games in 51.84 seconds on Friday. Schooling narrowly beat the Olympic qualifying standard of 51.96 seconds.
For the past three days, the Filipino crowds at the Aquatics Center made the event feel like it was being held in Singapore, with the gallery treating Schooling like its own.
Even though he was expected to snag SEA Games gold as part of his preparations for the Olympics, Schooling was not having a banner year. He failed in July to medal in the FINA Swimming World Cup in Singapore .
"You go through ups and down. Throughout the day or before or after the meet, it's about clearing your mind before the sixty seconds before you perform and get out there to race. Happy that I was able to do that tonight. Three more races to go," he said.
With his medal drought finally over, Schooling knows he owes nobody for his performance in the past months.
"I am doing it for myself, the people around me, and the people that supported me. I think that the longer you swim, the more exposed you get, the more you realize that people around you and the people that has assisted you are the most important thing," he said. "You can't let anyone else outside that circle dictate how you think or feel. So, this was for everyone that supported me and my family but as far as proving other people, I have nothing to prove."
Qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics at the SEA Games in the Philippines was especially gratifying for Schooling. His nanny since he was 10 months old, who he fondly calls Auntie Yolly, is a native of Cagayan, but was unable to join the trip to the Philippines.
"It's awesome. Wish she could be here today, but I know she is watching on TV. But I needed to step up," Schooling said.