Singapore — Heartfelt tributes are pouring in for Joseph Schooling’s father, the late Colin Schooling, arguably the country’s most famous sports dad.
“A loving father, a supportive brother, an outgoing uncle, a loyal friend, my husband,” Ms May Yim Schooling wrote in loving remembrance of Mr Colin Schooling. Mr Schooling, 73, father of Joseph Schooling, Singapore’s first Olympic gold medalist, died on Thursday at the Singapore General Hospital with his family by his side, said a spokesperson for the family.
“Colin was a giant among men. He would always tell you what he thought, no holds barred. We will miss him tremendously. The Schooling family would like to thank everyone for their support and words of comfort during this tough time, the spokesperson added.
Mr Schooling had been battling liver cancer. Joseph, 26, posted on his Instagram account an endearing black-and-white poolside photo of himself with his father at a swimming competition. Around the neck of the Olympic-champion-to-be are several of the many medals he would go on to earn in a celebrated career. There is no caption to the photo, just a red heart emoji.
Online, there has been an outpouring of tributes to Mr Schooling.
Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, who is also president of the Singapore National Olympic Council, paid tribute to Mr Schooling and his wife, May.
“As a nation, we would not have had the privilege and joy of celebrating Joseph’s historic win at the 2016 Olympic Games without the foresight and courage of Colin and May Yim Schooling.
They had no handbook nor prior examples, took the road less travelled, and made huge sacrifices to invest in Joseph’s potential. Despite no formal training, Colin’s sheer tenacity meant he collected thick compilations of statistics and research over the years, and had these knowledge and information at his fingertips.
“Their belief became Singapore’s pride, and they then selflessly shared their achievements with the rest of the country, hoping only that their journey would help lead to more champions. Colin and May blazed a trail and ventured where few dared.”
Leader of the Opposition and Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh also paid tribute to Joseph Schooling’s father. He said he thought of Mr Schooling as “the father so many fathers can only dream of becoming”. He had not known Mr Schooling personally, he said. For the Schoolings to back their son from such a young age, the way they did, is deserving of more than a medal in its own right, a hundred times over.”
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, who had met Mr Schooling many times over the years, wrote that he “was always gracious, considerate and well mannered. And his love for his family was always felt steeply”.
Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, posted a photo of himself with Mr Schooling in Parliament. He noted that Mr Schooling “was more than generous with his time and strongly supported my fund-raising efforts to upgrade the playschool and kindergarten at Sparkletots Joo Chiat.
“We will miss Colin.
“But we are heartened that what he stood for will carry on.”
Tributes also came in from an online hawkers’ group, as well as from ordinary folks who addressed him fondly as “Uncle Colin” or “Papa Colin” in their posts./TISG
Hawkers United Dabao 2020 wrote, “Rip Uncle Colin Schooling, you and auntie May had been our Hawkers United supporter since day 1 this group started and thank you for giving us an Olympic Gold Medallist.” /TISG
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