During his victory lap, Joseph Schooling looks to a familiar figure. The king who has been his inspiration and obsession for so long.
He turns to Michael Phelps and says: "Dude, this is crazy. I don't know how to feel right now. This is out of this world."
Phelps has been through this 22 times before, so he simply smiled, gave his successor a reassuring pat on the back and replied: "I know."
Other golden soundbites from the duo after the epic 100m butterfly final:
During the victory lap
ON RETIREMENT
Schooling: Why don't you go four more years?
Phelps: No way. That is not going to happen.
ON THE MOMENT
Schooling: Dude this is crazy. I don't know how to feel right now. This is out of this world.
Phelps: (with a smile) I know.
During the press conference
ON THEIR FIRST MEETING IN 2008
Schooling: Michael and the US team came to Singapore for a training camp before Beijing and came to the country club where I trained at. I was doing my Chinese essay for school and everyone was rushing and saying it's Michael. I was like, oh I want a picture with him. When I saw him I was shellshocked, didn't really smile - I just opened my mouth wide. Looking back, it's pretty crazy what happens in eight years and I'm just honoured and privileged to swim alongside him.
Phelps: I remember the monkeys kept stealing power bars from the team area at the pool. I wanted to see them so bad I just drove round in a golf cart just looking at monkey flying around these trees. It was awesome.
Schooling: Yeah, I was in the golf cart with him.
Phelps: I was so excited to see the monkeys.
ON BEING THE NEW BUTTERFLY KING
A journalist asks about what it means to end Phelps' streak and take over the mantle as the go-to butterfly swimmer in the world, and Schooling looks to Phelps.
Phelps: That's for you bro, don't look at me. (Laughter)
Schooling: (answering the question) "Chad, Michael, Laszlo... they will still be the face for butterfly. This is my first. It's not like I've won 22 or 23..."
Phelps: "It's a pretty good one to win though."
