RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Joseph Schooling was working on a school essay one morning in 2008 when Michael Phelps showed up to train at his club in Singapore ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
While other kids rushed at Phelps wanting photos, Schooling was frozen. He couldn't believe his swimming idol was in front of him. Eventually, the 13-year-old mustered the courage to get a picture, too.
"I couldn't really smile," Schooling said. "I just opened my mouth."
Their long-ago chance meeting made the rounds of social media Friday night after Schooling upset Phelps in the 100-meter butterfly to win his island nation's first Olympic gold, with the American losing the last individual race of his career.