Joseph Schooling to become first Singaporean inducted into International Swimming Hall of Fame

Former Singaporean star swimmer Joseph Schooling. Photo by Reuters

He is set to join a list of honorees that includes all-time great Michael Phelps, the legendary swimmer Mark Spitz and diver Fu Mingxia.

Announced alongside 10 other inductees in 2025, Schooling is part of a group that features swimming legends Anthony Ervin, Ryan Lochte (U.S.) and Federica Pellegrini (Italy), as well as individuals from nine countries, four of which, Kuwait, India, Tunisia, and Singapore are featured for the first time.

The 60th Anniversary Honoree Induction Ceremony will be held on July 28 at the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay in Singapore, coinciding with the World Aquatics Championships from July 11 to Aug. 3.

Schooling, 29, made his name at the 2016 Rio Olympics by defeating Phelps in the 100 m butterfly, setting a then-Olympic record of 50.39 seconds and winning the first-ever gold medal for Singapore.

His decorations also included six Singapore Sportsman of the Year awards, three Asian Games golds, two world championship bronzes and 29 SEA Games gold medals. He retired in April 2024.

"This achievement isn’t just mine – it belongs to my coaches, teammates, mentors, family, and everyone who believed in me along the way," Schooling said, as quoted by The Strait Times. "Swimming has shaped my life in ways I could never have imagined, teaching me discipline, resilience and the power of perseverance.

"To every young swimmer out there – chase your dreams fearlessly, embrace the grind and never stop believing in yourself. The water has given me so much and I’ll continue to give back to the sport that made me who I am."

The International Swimming Hall of Fame, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a non-profit organization and its museum is sanctioned by World Aquatics as the "official repository for aquatic history".