He is certain, however, he will not throw in the towel on his career.
He said: "Some people will just pull the plug, and that's fine.
"I just don't see myself being able to, not because I'm trying to hold on to something, but because there's just so much more to be done, and so much more that can be improved on.
"So, it is what it is, it sucks, it's over. Let's go for the next one."
That "next one", his long-time coach Sergio Lopez told ST after his race on Thursday, could be the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 13 months' time. Schooling agreed that the Asiad, where he is the two-time defending champion in the 100m fly, could be his next big goal.
National Service (NS), however, looms and while he has spoken plainly about his ease at having to conscript if not given another deferment by the Ministry of Defence, he hoped it would not be before Hangzhou.
"That (being called up to serve NS) would be tough for sure, because I have got so much more left in the tank," he said.
"And if I get my mind to come around and accept that this is the process and this is what we need to do, and go full throttle towards it, to not be in control of my future and…. not being able to do it, yeah, of course I'd be upset.
"I don't want to end like this. I know that the window is still wide open. We have an opportunity. And as long as I believe that I can get better, of course I'd be upset. Who wouldn't?"
He also said he has been moved by the reaction on social media, noting there has been a lot of "empathy" shown to him by Singaporeans despite his disappointing outing in Tokyo.
"And with everything that we've gone through I am surprised how many people - whether I talked to them on a daily, weekly, once a year, once a decade - have come out, show their support and say like we're all with you," he said.
"I haven't seen any negative comments, at least directly to me. I'm sure there will be - it's part of the job. But at the end of the day I just focus on the positives."
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/...after-poor-show-but-promises-theres-much-more
He said: "Some people will just pull the plug, and that's fine.
"I just don't see myself being able to, not because I'm trying to hold on to something, but because there's just so much more to be done, and so much more that can be improved on.
"So, it is what it is, it sucks, it's over. Let's go for the next one."
That "next one", his long-time coach Sergio Lopez told ST after his race on Thursday, could be the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 13 months' time. Schooling agreed that the Asiad, where he is the two-time defending champion in the 100m fly, could be his next big goal.
National Service (NS), however, looms and while he has spoken plainly about his ease at having to conscript if not given another deferment by the Ministry of Defence, he hoped it would not be before Hangzhou.
"That (being called up to serve NS) would be tough for sure, because I have got so much more left in the tank," he said.
"And if I get my mind to come around and accept that this is the process and this is what we need to do, and go full throttle towards it, to not be in control of my future and…. not being able to do it, yeah, of course I'd be upset.
"I don't want to end like this. I know that the window is still wide open. We have an opportunity. And as long as I believe that I can get better, of course I'd be upset. Who wouldn't?"
He also said he has been moved by the reaction on social media, noting there has been a lot of "empathy" shown to him by Singaporeans despite his disappointing outing in Tokyo.
"And with everything that we've gone through I am surprised how many people - whether I talked to them on a daily, weekly, once a year, once a decade - have come out, show their support and say like we're all with you," he said.
"I haven't seen any negative comments, at least directly to me. I'm sure there will be - it's part of the job. But at the end of the day I just focus on the positives."
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/...after-poor-show-but-promises-theres-much-more
