SINGAPORE — It was not his best day in office, but Singapore national swimmer Joseph Schooling is not pressing the panic button just yet.

Fresh from handing 18-time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps a sensational defeat in the 100m butterfly at the Longhorn Elite Invite in Texas on Saturday, Schooling was humbled in the 200m fly event yesterday morning (Singapore time), where he finished in seventh place and about six seconds off his personal best.

The 20-year-old had started the race strongly but fizzled out in the last 100m. He eventually timed 2min 2.31sec in a race won by American Pace Clark (1:56.97).

Schooling’s personal best in the event is 1:55.73 clocked at last June’s South-east Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore.

“I’m not satisfied,” said the Texas-based Singaporean of his performance. “It was nowhere near what I could do.

“But coming into this meet, my priority was to concentrate on the 100m fly race. This is an untapered meet and I am still loading. I also competed in the 400m individual medley on Sunday, which was part of my preparations, and I was definitely tired after that.

“But there are plenty of positives that I have taken from this meet going into Rio and I am just going to keep working to plan.”

Schooling has qualified for four events for the Olympics — the 100m and 200m butterfly, and 100m and 200m freestyle. He will likely focus on two events in Rio.

His scintillating performances over the past year — which include winning the 100-yard and 200-yard fly titles in record times at the prestigious National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships — have attracted Phelps’ attention.

“Obviously I hate to lose (in the 100m fly to Schooling),” the American swim legend told SwimSwam on Sunday. “Jo has been swimming really well over the last year, so it’s always good to race him.”

The Longhorn Elite Invite is the last competition for Schooling before the Rio Olympics.

He will join his national team-mates in Florida for a training camp on June 19-24. He will then return to Texas before jetting off to Rio.

Other Team Singapore swimmers also had creditable results at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis, which ended yesterday. It was their last competition before the Rio Games.

Quah Zheng Wen, 19, won the 200m fly event with a time of 1:57.64, and also clocked a personal best in the 200m freestyle (1:49.48). Three other swimmers — Pang Sheng Jun, Lionel Khoo, and Francis Fong — also did personal bests in the pool.

“Our swimmers have clicked very close to their best times, and approaching each race high in confidence and full of support for one another,” said Singapore head coach Sergio Lopez.

“Team Singapore had a very strong presence during the meet, and I have no doubts that it will help us in the future to be a very strong team.”