Colin and May keep every single medal that Joseph hands to them immediately after each race. They cherish his achievements and know that every race he wins is another reason to keep cheering him on.

It all started when an adolescent Joseph told his parents he wanted to win an Olympic medal. As their son’s obsession with swimming grew, so did Colin and May’s devotion to ensuring that he received all the help he needed along the way.

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Colin and May made the difficult decision to send Joseph away to train in the US when he was just 13-years-old. His mother May has said of his success: “This is like a journey we are all on together. There are many sacrifices, it’s not easy but it’s also very exciting.”

While Colin and May worked tirelessly to ensure their son achieved his dreams they also knew when to let loose. Joseph has had a relatively normal upbringing despite his busy training schedule and like any young adult, he is active on social media where you can keep up with his antics.

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The Schoolings know their son is well taken care of under Eddie Reese, former head coach of the US men’s Olympic swim team. So the parents channel their energies elsewhere, such as coming up with a travel checklist card, plastered all over Joseph’s Austin apartment so he does not forget anything before an overseas meet.

While the Schooling’s wanted their son to excel in his sport of choice they were also realistic about his chances. They even went as far as sending him for a bone test – that calculates growth potential – to see how far he can go in the sport. The test revealed that he will hit 1.90 metres, which is an optimum height to excel in swimming at the highest levels.

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While raw talent plays its part in nurturing a child’s abilities, discipline is also necessary in every household. The Schooling’s have instilled exemplary self-discipline in their son and the tactic has paid off. When pressed, Colin has said this of Joseph’s career: “We just want the best for my son. I’m thankful I am blessed with the means to be able to do so.”

That Joseph has been described as humble and hardworking is surely testament to the qualities that he observed in his father as a young child. After all, children learn a lot about how to act by watching their parents, and Colin Schooling is nothing if not a gentleman.

Joseph is an only child who spends some 10 months away from home each year training in the US, but Colin and May always make communication a priority for their son. They talk regularly on the phone to keep each other up to date on their daily activities.

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Sometimes teenagers tend to look less to their parents and more to outsiders for role models. Joseph’s parents understood this when they let other people mentor and train their son overseas with Colin saying that “May and I just wanted to make sure we groomed a young man who respects his elders, has manners and respects his competitors but never fears them.”

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