
Schooling: You’re not going to do the things you like every day, and that’s normal. But it’s whether you give yourself an excuse to not be as good as you could be. That’s the sticking point [of] whether you’re going to be good or great. The lanky lad has a laid-back charm about him. He is relaxed and affable, and we start things off easy, with his transition from sports role model to fashion model.

The newly opened Hugo Boss boutique at Marina Bay Sands Second question into the interview, Schooling interrupts his own response and apologises for the quality of his replies. “I’m pretty wiped right now; I don’t usually talk like that but it’s been a long day,” he concedes. Schooling has been fielding interviews all morning and I am the last journalist he is seeing before his training later at 4.30pm. The verbal admission appears to have worked some mental calibration magic, and the switching of gears is visible. From this point on, Schooling is sharper, more focused and on-point. I am cognisant of the privilege I have just witnessed: The ability to quickly catch himself and immediately course-correct is one of the virtues that makes Schooling the champion he is. We continue on with the new collaboration with Hugo Boss, and how he had been a fan of the brand long before the partnership: “My dad’s first suit was a Hugo Boss suit. He got it sometime ago and still looks great in it; it’s still holding up, no signs of wear and tear over time. So from a young age, I’d always held this brand in [high regard],” he shares. In addition to the Olympic champ fronting a series of advertising campaigns for the fashion label, the collaboration entails a limited-edition capsule collection comprising a polo shirt, tee shirt, shorts, bag and towel. Fifteen per cent of sales proceeds from the collection will go towards the Schooling Sports Academy, which aims to support aspiring athletes in achieving sporting excellence.
Jamie Nonis is a lifestyle journalist with an appreciation for all things beautiful This article appeared in Issue 835 (June 18) of The Edge Singapore. Subscribe to The Edge now