A standing ovation for Joseph Schooling in Parliament

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Swimmer Joseph Schooling, 21, and his parents Colin and May were feted in Parliament on Monday (15 August), as the House formally congratulated him for winning Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal.

The House arose as one to applaud the man who made history for the Republic last Saturday (13 August), when he won the 100m butterfly in a new Olympic record of 50.39 seconds. In the process, he beat Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history and his idol since he was a child.

Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin led the tributes, calling Schooling’s feat “a moment of great national pride” that added to the Paralympian Yip Pin Xiu’s gold medal in 2008.

“I believe for years to come, Singaporeans will remember this moment, when the Singapore flag flew highest and our national anthem rang out on the Olympic stage.”

Tan paid tribute to Colin Schooling and May Schooling, who dedicated their lives to supporting their only child’s Olympic dream.

“They are an embodiment of what family means,” said the minister, who also acknowledged the contributions of Sport Singapore, the Singapore National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Defence, which granted Schooling an extension of his deferment from National Service until the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Singapore must build on this milestone in its sporting history to become a sporting nation, Tan said.

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