Schooling made the one important decision when he was only 14 to train in the US; The sacrifice made by the family and the support he got from them was tremendous too!

"In 2008, when the Singapore Swimming Association shut down its Centre of Excellence (COE), Colin was convinced by ex-COE coach Jack Simon that the US was where Joseph's Olympic dream lay.

The Schoolings, who had to bear his school fees, expenses, transport and accommodation costs, took a leap of faith in 2009 and sent their only child abroad.

Colin, a 66-year-old businessman, estimates spending nearly US$1 million (S$1.26 million) on Joseph. That apart, there is also the heart-wrenching reality of being separated from their boy, only 14 at the time.

On average, the trio are together for only about three weeks a year.

Said May, a tennis player for Perak state: "At first, I didn't want him to go. But he told me 'Mum, if I am to get an Olympic gold medal, I have to go'.

"Grudgingly, I let him go but it was a painful decision."

Added Colin, a hurdler and water polo player who represented Singapore in softball: "Our ties are strong, we did this as a team because we love our son so much."

~ Chua Siang Yee, The Sunday Times, 28 Sep 2014.


Sent from my iPhone