Ahana Shrestha, Grade 11
UWC Costa Rica
It was the 12th of August 2016, one of the last days of the Rio Swimming Olympics. Down below in the Olympics Aquatic Stadium, swimming legend Michael Phelps would soon swim the last individual event of his successful career. The venue was packed, and the atmosphere was electric, as shouting, whistling, and cheering resonated around the stadium.
The announcer started introducing the competitors. Tom Shields. Laszlo Cseh. Chad Le CLos. Michael Phelps. A cacophony of shouts and cheers greets the legend. Sitting on the sofa, back at home, staring intently at the live stream, I too clap. But my focus is not on the 23-time gold medalist. Instead, it is on the next name the announcer calls - Joseph Schooling.
I pump my arms enthusiastically as the young Singaporean comes out. And as the competitors take their places on the diving block, my heart thrums with excitement. It's the 100m Butterfly finals, and I can't wait to see how this plays out. Phelps had won last year, but he had come out of retirement this year to once again participate in the 2016 Olympics. On the other hand, Schooling was in peak condition, and his heat timings were impressive. The race could go both ways.
A hush fell into the crowd as the announcer called, "Take your mark." I gripped my seat with anticipation. "Beep!". The swimmers shot off the blocks, diving explosively into the water. Everyone was neck to neck, every stroke sleek and smooth, as they rode the water gracefully. Yes! Schooling was first off the turn! He was in the lead, but Phelps's last 50m is always strong. He could still turn it around. I lean in closer to the screen. Phelps was catching up, but it wasn't enough. Schooling slams his hands against the wall, tears off his goggles, and whirrs to the screen to check his times. A moment of stunned silence and the stadium erupts in cheers. Joseph Schooling had just brought home Singapore's first-ever Olympic medal in swimming.
I'm ecstatic. Schooling had just broken the Olympic record. And Phelps, Le Clos, and Cseh all in second place. A triple-way second... In a sport where times are measured to the tenth of a second, having a tie, let alone a triple-way one was unheard of. Wow. This race was certainly one for the books. And I stared at the results on the screen; they almost seemed fitting in a poetic sort of way. The three most prominent figures in Butterfly, all pushed to the side as a new swimmer, a new generation took over.
This result was all the more meaningful because Phelps had been Schooling's idol for the longest time. Eight years ago, he met Phelps in Singapore as a fan, rather than a rival. At just 13yrs old, he took a picture with the legend, complete with his glasses and braces, and vowed that he would one day swim with Phelps. But little did he know, in less than ten years, he would not only swim with his idol but actually beat him.
Schooling is an inspiration to thousands of swimmers all over the world. We all grow up imagining and daydreaming that one day, we would swim with our idols. And for most of us, it stays just that - a dream. But Schooling was different. His story tells us that our dreams don't necessarily need to stay as dreams. His journey to where he is right now is of struggles and disappointments. He took part in the 2012 London Olympics as a 17-year-old with big dreams and even bigger expectations. And when he couldn't meet them, he was crushed. But he didn't let that discourage him, and he came to Rio with all guns blazing, and in the end, accomplished more than his dream.
I remember Schooling each time swim practice gets a little tough. Everytime my muscles burn and my lungs strain for air, everytime I can't muster strength to even finish the set, the story of Joseph Schooling lights a fire in me, a fiery ball full of energy and hope that one day, I too can swim with my idol.
The announcer started introducing the competitors. Tom Shields. Laszlo Cseh. Chad Le CLos. Michael Phelps. A cacophony of shouts and cheers greets the legend. Sitting on the sofa, back at home, staring intently at the live stream, I too clap. But my focus is not on the 23-time gold medalist. Instead, it is on the next name the announcer calls - Joseph Schooling.
I pump my arms enthusiastically as the young Singaporean comes out. And as the competitors take their places on the diving block, my heart thrums with excitement. It's the 100m Butterfly finals, and I can't wait to see how this plays out. Phelps had won last year, but he had come out of retirement this year to once again participate in the 2016 Olympics. On the other hand, Schooling was in peak condition, and his heat timings were impressive. The race could go both ways.
A hush fell into the crowd as the announcer called, "Take your mark." I gripped my seat with anticipation. "Beep!". The swimmers shot off the blocks, diving explosively into the water. Everyone was neck to neck, every stroke sleek and smooth, as they rode the water gracefully. Yes! Schooling was first off the turn! He was in the lead, but Phelps's last 50m is always strong. He could still turn it around. I lean in closer to the screen. Phelps was catching up, but it wasn't enough. Schooling slams his hands against the wall, tears off his goggles, and whirrs to the screen to check his times. A moment of stunned silence and the stadium erupts in cheers. Joseph Schooling had just brought home Singapore's first-ever Olympic medal in swimming.
I'm ecstatic. Schooling had just broken the Olympic record. And Phelps, Le Clos, and Cseh all in second place. A triple-way second... In a sport where times are measured to the tenth of a second, having a tie, let alone a triple-way one was unheard of. Wow. This race was certainly one for the books. And I stared at the results on the screen; they almost seemed fitting in a poetic sort of way. The three most prominent figures in Butterfly, all pushed to the side as a new swimmer, a new generation took over.
This result was all the more meaningful because Phelps had been Schooling's idol for the longest time. Eight years ago, he met Phelps in Singapore as a fan, rather than a rival. At just 13yrs old, he took a picture with the legend, complete with his glasses and braces, and vowed that he would one day swim with Phelps. But little did he know, in less than ten years, he would not only swim with his idol but actually beat him.
Schooling is an inspiration to thousands of swimmers all over the world. We all grow up imagining and daydreaming that one day, we would swim with our idols. And for most of us, it stays just that - a dream. But Schooling was different. His story tells us that our dreams don't necessarily need to stay as dreams. His journey to where he is right now is of struggles and disappointments. He took part in the 2012 London Olympics as a 17-year-old with big dreams and even bigger expectations. And when he couldn't meet them, he was crushed. But he didn't let that discourage him, and he came to Rio with all guns blazing, and in the end, accomplished more than his dream.
I remember Schooling each time swim practice gets a little tough. Everytime my muscles burn and my lungs strain for air, everytime I can't muster strength to even finish the set, the story of Joseph Schooling lights a fire in me, a fiery ball full of energy and hope that one day, I too can swim with my idol.
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