AUGUST 14 — Joseph Schooling didn’t simply win. He beat the world’s best swimmer. A man longer, taller and stronger than him in an event that demands absolute and punishing physical excellence.

The 21-year-old Singapore swimmer beat American legend Michael Phelps with an Olympic Record time 50.39s for the gold medal in the 100m Butterfly.

This is Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal and only the fifth medal we have ever won.

But Schooling didn’t simply win an Olympic gold medal. He has re-written the Singapore story.

I cannot imagine the pride and pleasure Schooling must be experiencing but as a single Singaporean spectator who can hardly recall the last time I dipped a toe into a pool, I am overwhelmed. This is a proud and patriotic moment because it has created for our city state a new narrative.

For so long, we have simply taken pride in watching our athletes compete and now suddenly we see that we can win. Hearing the national anthem play as Schooling received his medal, I was moved. More than moved, I was inspired.

Singapore’s Joseph Schooling poses with his gold medal on the podium of the Men’s 100m Butterfly Final... the country’s first Olympic gold medal, on August 12, 2016.— Picture from AFP

We never believed we could be Number One — Goal 2010 was reduced to a punchline. For years, we’ve had growth and topped economic lists as one of the richest countries in the world but the moniker of wealthy city is too intangible, it is difficult to own, take pride in and build on.

Today, in under a single minute, Schooling has put a tangible face to our meteoric rise and become the face for what should come next.

On the Internet, there is a photo of Schooling eight years ago as a young boy with Phelps and another of them both in the pool this year. That story is quite simply beautiful; it encapsulates all the lessons and energy of our forefathers.

On the world stage, we need not emulate or aspire — we can quite simply achieve.

Beyond Singapore, this is a coup for Asia too. Watching an athlete from a tiny Asian nation stand on the podium with a gold medal around his neck for one of the Games’ most prominent events — you cannot help but be gleeful.

This is the reason why we all watch sports and the Olympics — the strength and spirit of the Games capture our personal dreams of being bigger, better and bolder.

We are all Schooling or at the very least we all went to school with a boy who looks a lot like him and it allows us to appreciate the hard work (and every article that chronicles this boy’s rise shows just how much hard work and discipline he put in) invested into this victory.

It’s a rallying cry for our nation and frankly means much more to us than it does to countries habituated to winning gold; it shows us that we can go much further than neat flats and well-maintained public spaces, we can aspire to excellence.

This young man has captured the hearts and hopes of his entire people and it is this imagination we should be aiming to build on.

We can now dare to ask: if Schooling can be the greatest swimmer in the world, why can’t Singapore be the greatest city in the world? Not just happy to tag along as an also-ran behind the big leagues of London, Paris and New York.

Also, it is just really awesome lah. Friends and family keep saying: we won! So, thank you Schooling for letting your fellow Singaporeans so graciously co-opt your historic win and see the Singapore flag being waved at the stadium in Rio — shiok!

Congratulations, Joseph Schooling! And Majulah Singapura! #Schooling