SINGAPORE — The race to the podium is heating up for Singapore swim star Joseph Schooling (picture) ahead of the Rio Olympic Games, with 18-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps, Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh and Chad le Clos of South Africa staking their claims just months before the world’s biggest and most prestigious multi-sports event.

But former national swimmer David Lim — who mentored Schooling during his time with Swimfast Aquatic Club — believes that Schooling will deliver on the big stage.

“I seriously think Joseph has a good chance of winning a medal,” said the 49-year-old, who competed at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

“He is as good a bet for a medal as Phelps. One thing is for sure — he has got age on his side. Also, you may be looking at more established swimmers who are multiple medallists and Olympians, but Joseph is so much hungrier ... He is on the brink of making history. Joseph has nothing to lose, and moreover, he has got a whole nation backing him.”

United States-based swimmer Schooling has qualified for the men’s 100m and 200m butterfly and 100m freestyle, and he will face a strong field of swimmers in Rio.

American swimming great Phelps, who holds the world record in the 100m (49.82s) and 200m fly (1min 51.51s), is expected to mount a strong challenge in Brazil as he looks to add to his trophy collection from the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. Two-time world champion Cseh also sounded a warning to his rivals at the European Championships last month, winning the 100m and 200m fly in 50.86sec and 1min 52.91s — the fastest times clocked for the two races this season.

Local fans will be keen to catch the showdown between Schooling and Phelps at this week’s 2016 Elite Invite in Texas as the duo face off in the men’s 100m butterfly.

Lim is confident Schooling will deliver when it counts. “Joseph is a big-game athlete. He almost always breaks records at every meet he goes to, such as in the recent NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association),” he said.

“At the Olympics, he may be swimming his fastest times ever. It is like Lebron James or Stephen Curry in basketball — when the big games are here, they will rise up to score.”