Schooling on NS deferment: It's just one step to Olympic gold

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http://www.tnp.sg/content/swimmer-schooling-ns-deferment-its-just-one-step-olympic-gold

Swimmer Joseph Schooling's dream of achieving Olympic success was given a massive boost yesterday, when he was granted deferment from full-time national service till after the Rio Olympics in August 2016.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in Parliament that Schooling's parents had submitted a written request for NS deferment earlier this year, and the ministry granted it as they deemed the teenager a potential medal winner at international competitions, and he had shown that he required full-time training to be able to "compete successfully" at such high-level meets.

In a telephone interview from Florida, where he is based, the 18-year-old Bolles School student said last night: “The (national service deferment) is just one hurdle to cross and it feels good to cross it.

“But the job is not done yet and there is some way to go before I achieve my goal... which is to win a gold at the Olympics and I am setting myself up over the years to do that.