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Education shocked the world when he defeated Michael Phelps for the gold medal within the 100m butterfly on the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Swimmer Joseph Education, who gained Singapore's first and thus far solely Olympic gold medal in 2016, has introduced his retirement from the pool on the age of 28.
Education, identified within the city-state as “Singapore's Flying Fish”, stunned the swimming world when he bested his childhood hero Michael Phelps to win the 100m butterfly on the Rio Olympics with a time of fifty.39 seconds.
This was American swimming legend Phelps' final particular person race of his profession and Phelps had gained a document eight gold medals on the London Olympics in 2012.
Education discovered it tough to match that stage of world success after 2016, successful a sole bronze medal on the 2017 World Championships and shedding within the heats in her title protection on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“Right this moment marks the start of a brand new chapter – I can be retiring from aggressive swimming,” he stated in a message posted on Fb on Tuesday.
“There comes a time when everybody has to show the web page, flip to a brand new chapter. That is my time to do that, that is my official retirement,” Education stated. “There aren’t any regrets.
“I’m crammed with gratitude for each expertise swimming has introduced into my life. The victories had been thrilling, the defeats had been humbling, and collectively, they’ve instilled in me a resiliency that I’ll carry ahead into my subsequent chapter.
There have been extra losses than wins within the eight years since Rio, however Education will retire with three Asian Video games gold medals and 29 medals from the Southeast Asian Video games.
Education holds eight Singapore data, six in particular person occasions and two in relays.
In 2022, Education was pressured to apologize for utilizing hashish whereas competing in Vietnam whereas on depart from navy service.
Singapore's group was not schooled for final 12 months's delayed Asian Video games in Hangzhou as a result of two different swimmers had recorded sooner occasions.
He informed The Straits Instances that it “sucks” and that he was undecided about going to a different Olympic 12 months sooner or later.
“Though I’m stepping away from competitors, swimming will all the time be part of who I’m. It has given me the platform to encourage others to realize their goals it doesn’t matter what the percentages,” he stated Tuesday.
“I look ahead to exploring new passions, taking up completely different challenges, and seeing the place this subsequent section of life takes me.”