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On the 10th anniversary of his golden moment at the 2016 Rio Olympics, when he won the 100-meter butterfly, Joseph Schooling, Singapore’s first-ever Olympic Champion, has launched the Joseph Schooling Award to help fund the next generation of swimmers in his home nation. According to The Straits Times, the new program will kick-start with two swimmers receiving $10,000 in scholarships over the next two years. Schooling initially established a $200,000 fund, representing 20% of his earnings from the $1 million he received under the Major Games Award Program after winning gold in Rio. Schooling announced the launch of the program at an event in Singapore, which was attended by several young swimmers from the Singapore Aquatics Emerging Talents Program, as well as several executive committee members and guests who were with Schooling along his road to becoming an Olympic Champion. The event also included a video replay of the 100 fly from those Olympics, where Schooling notably downed legendary figures such as Michael Phelps, Lazslo Cseh, and Chad le Clos, who would all tie for silver behind Schooling’s 50.39-second performance. Schooling shared stories of how he decided to pursue swimming over other sports like tennis and golf. Schooling also shared with the young athletes in attendance that balance between sports and studies is crucial. He also thanked Singapore Aquatics for their support of his new initiative and hopes to leave a legacy he can “be proud of.” “My journey began as a dream and became reality through countless untold stories and moments of joy and heartache, shared not only by me but also by those closest to me… My gold medal was possible because of the unwavering support from my mom and dad. Now, I want to do my part to recognize and reward those who share that same dream and dare to pursue it beyond imagination.” Schooling said. “I need to leave a legacy I can be proud of… I hope the Joseph Schooling Award will serve as a pillar of support for recipients and strengthen their belief in themselves.” According to the report from The Straits Times, nominations for the award will begin on September 1, after which the national aquatic body will create an initial shortlist for interviews. The first recipients will receive their awards by the end of the calendar year, with coaches submitting “progress reports” after the first year to see if the recipients maintain eligibility for a 2nd year.