In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 16 June 1995
- Birthplace
- Singapore
- Country
- Singapore
- Nationality
- Singaporean
- Known for
- Winning Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal in the 100-metre butterfly at Rio 2016
- Sport
- Swimming
- Event
- 100-metre butterfly
- Olympic title
- Rio 2016 gold
- Winning time
- 50.39 seconds · Olympic record
Why this life matters
Schooling transformed what Singapore believed possible in elite sport and created a national reference point extending far beyond a single race.
Timeline
Key moments
Made his Olympic debut
Represented Singapore at the London Games as a teenager.
Won a world bronze
Claimed bronze in the 100-metre butterfly at the World Championships.
Made Olympic history
Won the Rio 100-metre butterfly in an Olympic-record 50.39 seconds.
Returned to the world podium
Won a second World Championships bronze in the 100-metre butterfly.
Retired from competition
Ended a career that included Olympic, world, Asian and Southeast Asian medals.
A long route to an Olympic final
Joseph Schooling pursued elite training in the United States from his teenage years and later competed for the University of Texas. His international progress included Asian and Commonwealth medals and a world bronze before the race that defined his career.
Fifty point three nine seconds
At Rio 2016, Schooling led the men’s 100-metre butterfly final from start to finish. His time of 50.39 seconds set an Olympic record and placed him ahead of Michael Phelps, Chad le Clos and László Cseh, who shared silver. It was Singapore’s first Olympic gold in any sport.
What the medal changed
The victory became a national celebration and a proof point for high-performance sport in Singapore. Schooling later faced uneven results and the interruption of national service before announcing his retirement in 2024, leaving a record measured both in medals and in the ambitions he made visible to younger athletes.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Joseph Schooling
- Who is Joseph Schooling?
- Joseph Schooling is an olympic champion swimmer. Schooling transformed what Singapore believed possible in elite sport and created a national reference point extending far beyond a single race.
- What is Joseph Schooling best known for?
- Joseph Schooling is best known for winning Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal in the 100-metre butterfly at Rio 2016.
- When and where was Joseph Schooling born?
- Joseph Schooling was born on 16 June 1995 in Singapore.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 7 September 2026.
