SINGAPORE – On the Saturday morning of Aug 13, 2016, full-time national serviceman Dashan Kumaran is seated on a ferry from Pulau Tekong to the SAF Ferry Terminal in Changi.

It is no regular commute this time. All eyes on the vessel are glued to the TV screen as national swimmer Joseph Schooling dives into the pool over 15,000km away in Rio de Janeiro. And 50.39 seconds later, the crowd breaks out in hearty cheers as their countryman claims Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal, winning the men’s 100m butterfly final.

Kumaran, now a 26-year-old media professional, remembered how everyone was transfixed by the race, and the pride and ecstasy that followed.

He said: “We were united in willing Joseph Schooling to win, and I still remember the whoops of joy and goosebumps as everyone on board went wild when he actually did win. At that moment, I felt really proud to be a Singaporean.”

The sports fan is among the many who have paid tribute to Schooling after he decided to call time on his career.

Singapore Aquatics president Mark Chay said: “He broke the glass ceiling and proved that with hard work and the right approach, Singaporeans can win Olympic gold in a highly competitive sport like swimming. He had and continues to have a direct and positive impact on the sport.

“His legacy as Singapore’s first Olympic gold medallist will never be taken away. Even as he calls time on his competitive career, I hope he continues to contribute to aquatics and perhaps takes on leadership roles either locally or internationally.”

Sprint queen Shanti Pereira, who won the women’s 200m gold at the Asian Games, added: “He put Singapore on the sporting map, so many people know Singapore because of what he did.

“It was an incredible moment not just for Singapore sport but every Singaporean too because in such great moments, the nation comes together and embraces the fact that our country is represented in this way.”

Schooling’s historic moment in Brazil sparked more than just joy and celebrations back home, as his exploits against a star-studded field that included 23-gold Olympic champion Michael Phelps galvanised a nation and inspired a generation of young swimmers.

It also raised the profile of the sport here, as The Straits Times reported swim schools receiving between 20 and 200 per cent more inquiries in the week after his win.

National men’s 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke record holder Nicholas Mahabir shared how he had always wanted to play water polo, until he witnessed Schooling’s Olympic triumph.

The 18-year-old, who asked Schooling for a wefie when training with the national youth water polo team at the OCBC Aquatic Centre in 2019, said: “Any time it gets hard for me, I just think if Jo can do it, why wouldn’t anyone else be able to do it?”

Schooling’s teammates also paid tribute to their senior, noting the strong work ethic that propelled him to the top, his strength in adversity and his kind nature outside the pool.

Jonathan Tan, who has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics in the 50m freestyle, said: “You can tell when he is not having a good session because he won’t be particularly happy. You can see he cares and it affects him when he is not doing well, and he will find solutions to swim faster. Even if he is not at his best, he never gives up.”

The 22-year-old also recalled how Schooling encouraged him after the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team were disqualified in the final at the Hanoi SEA Games in 2022.

Schooling’s influence also extended beyond the swimming pool.

National badminton player and 2021 world champion Loh Kean Yew remembered watching Schooling’s 2016 race at the Singapore National Olympic Council’s office.

The 26-year-old said: “It was awe-inspiring to see a Singaporean beating world-class rivals to stand on top of an Olympic podium. As I was starting out on my own full-time sports journey, Schooling proved it is possible for an athlete from a small country like Singapore to achieve big things at the highest level.”

Former national swimming coach David Lim, who worked with Schooling before he moved to the United States, recalled marvelling at his “tremendous” kicking ability.

The 57-year-old also paid tribute to Schooling’s parents, May and the late Colin, who believed in and helped their son achieve his dream of becoming an Olympic champion.

He said: “Parents here are afraid of losing out. When their children are caught out by examinations and grades, the first thing to go is sports. This is why as a coach, I really appreciate parents who do not worry about grades and allow their children to put their heart and soul into swimming.”

Perhaps more than most, Spanish coach Sergio Lopez has had a front-row seat to Schooling’s development as the pair first worked together at The Bolles School in Florida from 2010 to 2014. They would later reunite for the Olympics in 2016 and 2021.

Paying tribute to his protege whom he described as goal-oriented and hard-headed, the 55-year-old former Singapore national coach said: “He wanted to be the best, and he wanted to be an Olympic champion. I had to navigate through his growing pains to teach him to stay the course and to fight and work for the dream.

“But that’s what makes him, Ryan Murphy, Caeleb Dressel and Kevin Cordes champions. Swimmers I’ve coached at that level are hard-headed and they are special.

“At the ready room in Rio, we chatted a little bit, I gave him a hug, and he told me, ‘Sergio, don’t worry, I got this’, and I got goosebumps from how much he believed he was going to win.”

Lopez noted that it is important for world-class athletes to be able to turn the chapter and move on from their competitive careers.

He added: “The process to get that gold medal is relevant for the lessons he has learnt. Jo has had, for his short life, an amazing and impressive and interesting life full of experiences that hopefully he can bring to the table to his business, to his country, to help younger kids find their dreams.”

• Additional reporting by Deepanraj Ganesan and Melvyn Teoh