Singapore wins first ever Olympic gold in 2016 – SCMP archive

On August 13, 2016, Singapore made history by celebrating its first-ever Olympic gold medalist, swimmer Joseph Schooling. The young athlete stunned the world by defeating his childhood idol, American swimmer Michael Phelps, in the 100-meter butterfly event. Schooling's remarkable performance resulted in an Olympic record time of 50.39 seconds, as Phelps and South African Chad le Clos and Hungarian Laszlo Cseh shared silver medals in a tense three-way tie.

The 21-year-old Schooling's victory not only made him an instant millionaire, earning him a S$1 million (HK$5.76 million) bonus, but it also marked a significant milestone for Singapore's sports industry. Prior to this achievement, the Lion City had only won four medals since joining the Olympics in 1948 - two silvers and two bronzes.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong praised Schooling's accomplishment, stating that it was "an incredible feat, to compete among the world's best, stay focused, and emerge victorious." Schooling himself acknowledged the challenges he faced, saying, "It's been a hard road. I've done something that no one in our country had done before."

Schooling's journey to the Olympics began when he met Phelps as a 13-year-old, who inspired him to pursue swimming at an international level. Schooling eventually moved to the United States for further training and ultimately represented Singapore at the Rio Games. He expressed gratitude to Phelps, stating, "If it wasn't for Michael, I don't think I could have gotten to this point."

Phelps, who was denied a 23rd career gold medal and a fifth overall, reflected on the unique finish, saying, "I don't know if I've been in a tie, so a three-way touch is pretty wild." Despite the intense competition, Phelps acknowledged Schooling's impressive feat and wished him success in his future endeavors.