SINGAPORE - Singapore Swimmer Joseph Schooling is already being courted by US universities, despite having two years to go before being eligible for admission.
The 17-year-old, who competed in the recent London Olympics, has received invitation letters from more than 10 American schools, The Straits Times reported.
The universities are not allowed to approach the athlete directly until he is in his final year, but are offering to sponsor his trips to the US to visit the schools' facilities.
But Schooling already has a college in mind - the University of Texas at Austin, which has a stellar men's swim team ranked second in the National Collegiate athletic Association's top division.
Their coach is Eddie Reese, the assistant coach of the US men's team at the London Olympics. Its alumni includes six-time Olympic medalist Brendan Hansen, who also competed at the London Games.
Other schools he is considering are the University of Florida and the University of Southern California.
No matter which university he settles on, one thing for sure is that Schooling will continue to pursue his education in the US, where he has been based since 2009.
The swimmer will be flying back to Florida tomorrow morning, where he will be starting Grade 11 at the Bolles School next month.
Schooling enjoyed a three-week vacation in Singapore after the Olympics, where he allowed himself to indulge in local food like chwee kueh (steamed rice cake) and fried carrot cake, and had fun bowling and going out to the movies.
He also wishes to put the cap-and-goggles fiasco at the Olympics behind him.
The swimmer's gear was rejected minutes before the 200m butterfly heat because the items were not approved by swimming's governing body, Fina. He ended up finishing two seconds off his personal best in his pet event.
The incident is being investigated by the Singapore National Olympic Council, but Schooling says he is ready to move on.
He has set his sights on helping his school win the US national meet in Dec, before competing for the first time in the World Championships held in Barcelona next year, where he has already made the 'B' qualifying marks in the 100m and 200m fly.
With his Olympic experience behind him, Schooling told The Straits Times he believes he will be a better competitor in Spain, and will be "more relaxed" and not be as panicky as he was before.
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The 17-year-old, who competed in the recent London Olympics, has received invitation letters from more than 10 American schools, The Straits Times reported.
The universities are not allowed to approach the athlete directly until he is in his final year, but are offering to sponsor his trips to the US to visit the schools' facilities.
But Schooling already has a college in mind - the University of Texas at Austin, which has a stellar men's swim team ranked second in the National Collegiate athletic Association's top division.
Their coach is Eddie Reese, the assistant coach of the US men's team at the London Olympics. Its alumni includes six-time Olympic medalist Brendan Hansen, who also competed at the London Games.
Other schools he is considering are the University of Florida and the University of Southern California.
No matter which university he settles on, one thing for sure is that Schooling will continue to pursue his education in the US, where he has been based since 2009.
The swimmer will be flying back to Florida tomorrow morning, where he will be starting Grade 11 at the Bolles School next month.
Schooling enjoyed a three-week vacation in Singapore after the Olympics, where he allowed himself to indulge in local food like chwee kueh (steamed rice cake) and fried carrot cake, and had fun bowling and going out to the movies.
He also wishes to put the cap-and-goggles fiasco at the Olympics behind him.
The swimmer's gear was rejected minutes before the 200m butterfly heat because the items were not approved by swimming's governing body, Fina. He ended up finishing two seconds off his personal best in his pet event.
The incident is being investigated by the Singapore National Olympic Council, but Schooling says he is ready to move on.
He has set his sights on helping his school win the US national meet in Dec, before competing for the first time in the World Championships held in Barcelona next year, where he has already made the 'B' qualifying marks in the 100m and 200m fly.
With his Olympic experience behind him, Schooling told The Straits Times he believes he will be a better competitor in Spain, and will be "more relaxed" and not be as panicky as he was before.
[email protected]
