S1E2: Is it over for Joseph Schooling? - Hard Tackle

Hard Tackle

Can Singapore's only Olympic champion ever make a comeback?

Synopsis: Every fourth Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times dives into a sports topic and tackles the hard questions with its guests on Hard Tackle.

For the first time since his 2011 debut, Joseph Schooling will not represent Singapore at the Cambodia SEA Games in May. After withdrawing from the swim team headed for Cambodia, the Republic’s only Olympic champion said on March 1: “After careful consideration with my team, I have decided to pull out of the SEA Games. This was not an easy decision, but I am currently not at the level at which I hold myself to perform.”

On the back of Schooling’s decision to withdraw, ST’s Hard Tackle dives into the inevitable discussion on whether we have seen the last of our Olympic winner.

Former national swimmer David Lim and Tao Li - Asian Games winner and a former teammate of Schooling's - join ST sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to discuss Schooling’s current predicament, if retirement is on the cards and how Schooling’s decline could have been prevented.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:20 On Joseph Schooling’s current predicament of training while serving national service

7:38 Have we seen the last of Schooling at a competitive level?

9:58 Could Schooling be targeting an Asian Games return?

15:40 Understanding Schooling’s regression

21:00 What lessons can be drawn from this saga?

Read more: https://str.sg/iZxz

Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan ([e-mail]) & Eden Soh

Edited by: Eden Soh

Follow ST Sports Talk Podcast channel here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JX88

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [e-mail]

Follow Deepanraj Ganesan on Twitter: https://str.sg/wtra

Read Deepan's articles: https://www.straitstimes.com/authors/deepanraj-ganesan

---

Discover more ST podcast channels:

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

---

Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#sportstalk

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Capíttulos

1. Is it over for Joseph Schooling? - Hard Tackle (00:00:00)

2. Schooling’s current NS/training predicament (00:03:34)

3. Last of Schooling at competitive level? (00:07:48)

4. Comeback at Asian Games instead? (00:10:08)

5. Understanding Schooling's regression (00:15:50)

6. Lessons from this saga (00:21:09)