Unfortunately, Colin passed away.

While Colin’s son is certainly the household name that everyone knows, Colin himself was quite the sportsman. He started out in Raffles Institution where he enjoyed hurdling and water polo before he went on to become a national softball player. 

In 1983, Colin married his wife, May Yim, who he met at a Pesta Sukan softball tournament in Penang in the 1960s. May was part of the Perak team while Colin was representing Singapore in the Pirates team.

The couple began trying for a baby and after three miscarriages, they were able to conceive. Joseph Schooling was born in 1995. 

When Schooling began to show an interest in swimming, both Colin and Yim put all their time, energy and money into helping him to achieve his dream of one day becoming an Olympic champion.

To do this, they spent over a million dollars, sold a house in Perth and cashed out on an endowment plan all to finance Joseph’s training in the United States. 

However, Colin’s contributions were far from just financial. In fact, the talented handyman also devised swimming contraptions that might one day end up at the Singapore Sports Museum.

On Thursday, May took to Instagram to write an emotional goodbye to her husband, “It is hard to say goodbye, so let’s begin with ’see you again’. A loving father, a supportive brother, an outgoing uncle, a loyal friend, my husband. Colin is a character on its own. All who personally know him will know what I’m talking about. He speaks freely and passionately, and that is one of the things that I will miss about him.“

“He will be missed but let’s celebrate his freedom from pain and suffering and his reunion with The One above. A tough fighter indeed,” she concluded.

Joseph Schooling also took to Instagram to post a black and white image of himself as a child after a swimming competition with his father by his side. He simply used the heart emoji in his caption. 

As Colin’s only child, Joseph has in past interviews talked passionately about the golf games he would play with his father as he grew up, the bowling trips they would take to Kuala Lumpur, their meals at the Lagoon hawker centre at East Coast Park and even simple car rides. 

In response to news of his passing, Singapore National Olympic Council president Tan Chuan-Jin paid tribute to Colin and May by saying, “They had no handbook nor prior examples, took the road less travelled, and made huge sacrifices to invest in Joseph’s potential.

“Despite no formal training, Colin’s sheer tenacity meant he collected thick compilations of statistics and research over the years and had these knowledge and information at his fingertips.

“Their belief became Singapore’s pride, and they then selflessly shared their achievements with the rest of the country, hoping only that their journey would help lead to more champions. Colin and May blazed a trail and ventured where few dared. 

“In all my interactions with Colin, despite the success of his son, Colin always remained grounded and was a quintessential gentleman in every way.

“We will miss Colin dearly and extend our deepest condolences to May and Joseph.”

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