Schooling's back and he's eyeing a perfect nine golds
Walking through the arrival gates at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 on Friday morning (May 22), Joseph Schooling didn't look like he had endured a 30-hour journey from Austin, Texas.
He flashed a big smile and greeted swimming officials, before hugging his father, Colin.
The 19-year-old undergraduate at the University of Texas, is glad to be home, well-rested, and dreaming of a perfect South-east Asia (SEA) Games next month.
Schooling, a 100m butterfly gold medallist at last year's Asian Games, will compete in nine events at the OCBC Arena when the Games run from June 5 to 16.
He said: "I'm in good shape and really looking forward to the Games. It's really exciting to swim and compete at home.
"Nine events are fine with me, and I think it's possible to get a gold in all of them. You know me, every time I jump in the pool, I want to win."
If Schooling succeeds in his quest for a perfect nine, he will replicate the achievements of former swim queen Joscelin Yeo, who bagged nine golds the last time the Games were held here in 1993.
Read the full interview in our print edition on May 23.
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