A Hero's Homecoming

CHUA SIANG YEE

It is just past 7.30am at the Schooling household in Marine Parade. Joseph Schooling is facing the race of his life  - not to be late for his victory parade which starts in a couple of hours. But as he wolfs down his breakfast while picking out his attire for the day, Singapore's Olympic champion suddenly jumps to his feet and rushes to his front door.

"It's really there," he said, bemused at the sight of a cup of Milo Dinosaur. "Some fans said they would get it for me last night and would leave it outside the house.

"I totally forgot it was there."

Screaming, adoring fans, most have seen. Politicians offering their congratulations, they are a regular sight too  - even if Schooling is the first athlete to be given a standing ovation in Parliament following his gold medal in the 100m butterfly at the Rio Olympics.

But fans who brave condominium security to deliver food? Well-wishers who present the champion with bottles of home-made chilli paste, paintings and balloon sculptures? This is a whole new level of fandom.

"It has been zero to a hundred from the moment I landed," said Schooling, who on Aug 13, became Singapore's first Olympic gold medallist after beating a field which included American swimming legend Michael Phelps, South Africa's world champion Chad le Clos and Hungarian Olympic veteran Laszlo Cseh.

Singapore has had its far share of victory celebrations. Weightlifter Tan Howe Liang was feted after he won a silver at the 1960 Games, Singapore's first Olympic medal. Almost 50 years later at the Beijing Games, the women's table tennis team also had a victory parade after ending a decades-long wait for a second Olympic medal. Footballers have been the most used to the fanfare. Singapore's Malaysia Cup winning team of 1980 and the 2007 Suzuki Cup champions were given a rousing homecoming as respective captains Samad Allapitchay and Aide Iskandar held the cups aloft.

But the response Schooling got since his return has been unprecedented.

Said Prem Chand, 65, who watched the Parliamentary proceedings on Aug 15 when a motion was moved to formally congratulate the champion: “He deserves everything that has come his way. He brought the nation glory at such a young age and as a Singaporean you feel proud of him.”

From mega corporations to small business, from loved ones to the humble man in the street, everyone wanted to share the champion's joy.

He has been given a free mobile phone, one million air miles and countless of free meals.

His autograph is much-coveted, a wefie is priceless. His parents, Colin and May, have become celebrities, along with his coach Sergio Lopez and buddy Teo Zhen Ren, a fellow national swimmer, who are also approached by fans wanting to be near anything connected to the champion.

Singaporeans are hungry for news and information about the country's first Olympic gold medallist. The fried carrot cake stall at Marine Terrace Market might not have a Michelin star but the swimmer's hashtag of #chyetowkwaytime has made the little-known stall into an overnight hit.

It began at Changi Airport, where more than 500 fans showed up early on Monday morning (Aug 15) to welcome the swimmer home. Some even started waiting from 10.30pm on Sunday, seven hours before Schooling’s flight was scheduled to land. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean was also among the welcome party. He was joined by Sport Singapore chief Lim Teck Yin, and Singapore National Olympic Council vice-presidents Tan Eng Liang and Annabel Pennefather.

Within minutes of his arrival, it was already apparent that Schooling-mania had gripped the country as parents brought children in tow, opting for Schooling instead of schooling.

Christine Loo, 50, who was among the more than 500 fans at the airport, said: “We wanted to show our support and gratitude to Joseph and his parents for giving us the chance to feel such pride. With all of us here at the airport, he knows we are all behind him.”

That rousing airport reception would set the tone for the four-day homecoming of Hurricane Joseph.

In Parliament later that day, the House formally congratulated him on his achievement. Standing between parents, Schooling then received a standing ovation from the country’s leaders in a first for a local sportsman.

Schooling called the Parliament stop the “highlight of my trip” – but some would disagree.

After all, it was during his three-stop victory parade on Thursday that Schooling-mania truly reached fever pitch.

Close to 10,000 fans crowded the three pit stops and lined the bus route, hoping to catch a glimpse of the University of Texas at Austin student, who returned to the United States early on Friday. Many are students. Choose Schooling or schooling. Their decision was clear.

Fans chanted his name and waved mini Singapore flags, while the athletic ones among them even threw gifts at the swimmer, who was standing on the upper deck of an open-top bus.

The frenzy reached a climax at Marine Terrace Market, a stone’s throw from the Schooling residence, where almost a thousand fans started their wait an hour before his scheduled arrival.

Student Rifah Tashfiah, who skipped school to be there, said: “We can go to school every day but we don’t get to see Schooling every day. And this might be the only time we will get to see him.”

The swimmer's security detail also had to be on high alert as over-zealous supporters charged at him wanting an autograph. His mother May almost got lost in the crowd and a “rescue party” was dispatched to find her.

During the bus parade, the butterfly specialist’s appeal extended even to motorists – two of them, distracted by the entourage, got into minor accidents, including a car which veered into the bus. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt.

Salmiah Sahnan, 61, who was at Singtel Comcentre, the second pit-stop, to cheer on Schooling, hailed him as the "hero of the century". She added: “I hope he will inspire all the youngsters to follow in his footsteps.”

The eventful bus parade ended at Raffles City Shopping Centre, where Schooling and his fans watched a replay of THAT race.

His winning time of 50.39sec, not surprisingly, was a sold-out number at lottery outlets. The crowd than sang the National Anthem as a replay of the victory ceremony was screened.

Could these scenes repeat itself in four years?

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen gave the champion a major boost when he confirmed that swimmer’s national service deferment would be extended by four years until after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“It’s a weight off my shoulders,” said Schooling, who is aiming to compete in four events in Tokyo, up from his two races in Rio.

On top of the media engagements, he also made time to visit former Singapore President S R Nathan, who is in Singapore General Hospital’s intensive care unit after suffering a stroke last month. He also visited his alma mater Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) at Winstedt Road, where 1,607 students gave him a rousing reception.

As he finally winds down on the flight back, probably in the First Class cabin of national carrier Singapore Airlines, Schooling must still be in awe of the reception he received.

His cheeks must be cramping up now, from smiling for pictures. His right bicep must be sore, from the sheer number of autographs he had signed and a trip to the tattoo parlour at North Bridge Road to ink the five Olympic rings. In colour.

But it is back to the grind, to the pool, to the classroom and to the chrysalis, as Singapore awaits the next evolution of the butterfly king.

In under 51 seconds, Schooling has given his country a lifetime of memories. In addition to the airport frenzy, the epic victory parade and the chance meetings at the hawker centre, it is the events of Aug 13 at 9.15am that a population will remember most.

Years from now, people will still talk of that day when Joseph Schooling beat the world to win Singapore's first Olympic gold and gave a nation cause to celebrate.

MAIN COVER

ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG