‘A true role model for us all in managing the ups and downs in life’ — Soh Rui Yong spends time with Joseph Schooling

At a meal shared between two national athletes, marathoner Soh Rui Yong praised beleaguered Olympic medallist Joseph Schooling for how he’s been handling recent controversy.

In posts over Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday (Aug 21), Soh wrote that he had spent a “lovely evening catching up” with Schooling, whom he called a “world class homecook.” Soh included in his post a photo of a delicious-looking steak dinner, presumably prepared by the swimmer.

“He’s stayed focused and professional despite having to swim against some rough currents recently. A true role model for us all in managing the ups and downs in life,” wrote Soh, a two-time SEA Games gold medallist who currently holds four national records.

The swimmer’s mother, Ms May Schooling, had also been present at the meal.

“Lovely seeing Aunty May too who looked beautiful as always but claimed she wasn’t dressed up enough for a photo. Too humble!” Soh added.

He also included a photo of Schooling with Ms Romaine Soh, Rui Yong’s sister, who’s also an award-winning runner.

The swimmer has been keeping a low profile lately after it was reported last month that he had been found to have taken cannabis overseas in May when he was on short-term disruption from full-time National Service (NS) to train and participate in the Southeast Asian Games.

Schooling was issued a formal letter of warning by the Ministry of Defence “informing him of the serious consequences of drug abuse meted out to all SAF personnel, who may be sentenced up to nine months detention in the SAF Detention Barracks.”

The athlete issued an apology on Aug 30, citing “a moment of weakness after going through a very tough period of my life”.

Mr Calvin Schooling, 73, the swimmer’s father, died last November at the Singapore General Hospital with his family by his side.

Many Singaporeans have voiced their support for Schooling, appearing to be inclined to forgive and move on.

The outspoken Soh is no stranger to scandal himself, having been involved in several legal disputes over the past years. /TISG

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