SINGAPORE – Crowds cheered “Schooling, Schooling!” when the Olympic champ Joseph Schooling made his way through crowds of people during victory parade on Thursday (Aug 18).
The day started bright and early around 9am for Schooling whose first stop was the Singapore Sports Hub, where the open-top bus parade kicked off from.
As the bus made its way along Tanjong Rhu and Tanjong Katong Roads, passing by Dunman High School and the Canadian School, students shouted his name and waved mini Singapore flags as Schooling waved back.
Cars along Old Airport Road honked as the bus passed by and overhead bridges were also packed with people eager to catch a glimpse of the swim star.
Schooling’s victory parade comprises of three stops – Marine Terrace Market, Singtel Comcentre Plaza and Raffles City Shopping Centre. He will get off at each stop to meet his supporters.
At around 8.30am, there were reportedly queues at the first pit stop at Marine Terrace Market as many who lived nearby wanted to meet the champ and get his autograph, reported The Straits Times.
By 9am, crowds in the hundreds extended to nearby HDB blocks.
By the time the bus arrived at Marine Terrace at 10.30am, hundreds of people mobbed Schooling as he was trying to make his way through the crowd to get to his favourite fried carrot cake stall.
The crowds were too excited to see Schooling that a small scuffle occured as one fan was trying to get close to the Olympic champ, according to AsiaOne’s reporter on the ground.
Schooling is onto his next stop at Singtel Comcentre where crowds have gathered around the building and at near by skate park.
Stay tuned for more updates…
maryanns@sph.com.sg
