Poor Schooling — after years of strict diets, endless fitness regimen and finally beating his hero Michael Phelps in the Olympics, dude just wants to come back home and enjoy a plate of chye tow kway.
You’d think that after winning gold for Singapore in a historic victory that united the nation, folks would let Joseph Schooling do whatever he wants in his very limited time at home. Alas, the intrusion of privacy is part and parcel of being the country’s first Olympic champion, as Schooling has come to know since he got up on that podium in Rio.
Brands, commercial entities and politicians rushed to get in his good graces while others capitalised on his win (by using his name) to sell their own products. So much so that the Olympic brand police had to tell the Singapore National Olympic Committee to do something about it.
The whirlwind of frenzy never stopped for Schooling in Singapore, but he’s probably a little glad that it’s all over since he’s flying back to the United States to resume his studies at the University of Texas today. His last day at home yesterday proved to be his hardest trial in sudden fame as he embarked on a victory parade from Old Airport Road to Raffles City to greet the thousands of fans wanting to get a glimpse of him.
One stop included a visit to Marine Terrace Market — where Bee Bee Carrot Cake sells his favourite chye tow kway dish. Enjoy it he did not, as he managed to only get a single bite of the dish while being squeezed in from all sides by cameras, minders and fans. Just watch the footage by Channel NewsAsia below, and you can even spot a brief look on his face (while chomping on carrot cake) where he seems so tired of being in public eye. Dude just wants to enjoy his chye tow kway.
Other folks seem to agree too:
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