Tokyo Olympics: Joseph Schooling bows out of 100m freestyle, and now turns to the defence of his Rio 2016 butterfly title

The Singaporean swim star, who famously beat childhood idol American Michael Phelps at Rio 2016, is back for Tokyo 2020

The 26-year-old, who also competed at London 2012, fails to qualify for the semi-finals along with Hong Kong’s Ian Yen-tou

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Joseph Schooling of Singapore failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 100m freestyle. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:57pm, 27 Jul 2021Updated: 7:57pm, 27 Jul 2021

Joseph Schooling clocked a 49.84 in his 100m freestyle heat at Tokyo 2020 on Tuesday, failing to advance to the next round as he turns his attention to his best event – the 100m butterfly – in which he is the defending champion and Olympic record holder.

Schooling will start the defence of his 100m butterfly title on Thursday at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre after winning Singapore’s first-ever gold medal in 2016 in the event with a time of 50.39. He also competed at the 2012 London Olympics, however failed to get out of his heat in the 100m butterfly and the 200m butterfly.

Hong Kong’s Ian Yen-tou, who was also competing in the event, clocked 49.49 and also failed to qualify for the semi-finals on Tuesday.

Schooling recently told the Post in an interview that he has had to process all the fame and attention that came from beating his childhood hero Michael Phelps, going from an unknown to international swimming star overnight. He said the breakthrough came when he was able to separate the person from the athlete.

Singaporean swimmer Joseph Schooling looks to defend his title at Tokyo 2020. Photo: Don Wong

“Once I started to conceptualise that and wrap my head around it and believe in that, it was a huge weight off my shoulders. Before I used to think, what if this does not go the way that I want it to, what if this and what if that? But now it’s as long as I give myself the best opportunity at that point in time. I am happy with that, win or lose.”