TODAY’s countdown for the SEA Games, which focuses on talents with the potential to win medals both in Myanmar and the 2015 Games in Singapore, concludes today with the spotlight on Joseph Schooling. Now 18, he is expected to star on home soil in two years as a lead-up to the 2016 Olympics.

SINGAPORE — He has lined up alongside Michael Phelps on the starting blocks at the Olympic Games and caused current Olympic 200m butterfly champion Chad Le Clos to shift a little uncomfortably in his seat when asked to talk about him.

Like a prizefighter, Joseph Schooling is used to staring down some of swimming’s best.

And where so many athletes are afraid of even discussing their targets, the 18-year-old United States-based Singaporean had no qualms about revealing his aim of winning six gold medals, all in Games record times, for this South-east Asian (SEA) Games which officially kicked off in Myanmar yesterday.

But while the SEA Games should represent an easier task for someone used to racing against the best in the US, which is considered the top swimming nation today, Schooling knows there will be added attention on him when he takes the plunge at the Wunna Theikdi Swimming Complex in Naypyidaw today.

It will be his first major meet since becoming the first Singaporean athlete to be granted a long-term deferment from National Service in his bid to prepare for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he is regarded as a genuine medal prospect in the butterfly events.

Schooling, who competed at last year’s London Olympics, knows he has to start repaying the faith in him.

“I used to feel the pressure more … but it is better now that two months has passed,” he told TODAY recently. “I want to continue to prove to MINDEF (Ministry of Defence) that I am worthy of their deferment grant ... I am aiming for six golds in (SEA Games) record times … If that happens, it will be phenomenal.”

In October, MINDEF granted Schooling a long-term deferment from NS until Aug 31, 2016, clearing the way for him to prepare for the 2016 Olympics.

This will be Schooling’s second SEA Games outing after his debut in 2011, where he won the 50m and 200m fly. He is slated to compete in six events in Myanmar (see box), starting with the 4x200m freestyle relay today.

For Schooling’s pet event in the 200m fly, the return of Malaysian star Daniel Bego has added spice to the competition.

Bego, 24, is a 10-time SEA Games champion, including three straight 100m fly titles from 2005 to 2009. He also won the 200m fly title in 2009. But a shoulder problem kept him out of the 2011 Games in Palembang, where Schooling made his SEA Games bow by winning the 50m and 200m fly.

“He used to be my idol when I was younger and watched him swim, so I am excited to match up against him for the first time,” said Schooling.

Schooling must also contend with reigning 100m fly champion Hoang Quy Phuoc of Vietnam, and Indonesia’s Glenn Victor Sutanto, who finished second in the 50m and 100m fly two years ago.

“Unlike 2011 where Glenn trained for the back and fly events, he will only focus on his pet event this time,” said Indonesia coach Albert Sutanto.

“Joseph can win other events easily, but it’s going to be a very good race between the two in the 100m fly.”

It is a far cry from just 48 months ago, when the then-16-year-old Schooling was just an emerging talent at the 2011 SEA Games.

According to US swimming records in September, Schooling is now ranked in the top-five with Americans in his age group.

In the 100m fly, his time of 52.33secs is ranked second behind 18-time Olympic champion Phelps (51.10). He is also ranked third in 200m fly (1min 56.27sec) and fifth in the 200m individual medley (1:59.99).

Based in Florida since 2010, Schooling will graduate next year from Bolles, where he has been under the tutelage of Spain’s 1988 Olympic bronze medallist Sergio Lopez, and join the University of Texas in Austin on a US$45,000 (S$56,250) scholarship. His coach at the university will be Eddie Reese, who coached the US Olympic swim teams from 1992 to 2012.

Being based in the US helped the only child of Colin and May Schooling grow up normally, and keep the teenager, who supports Chelsea and cannot resist his favourite chai tow kway (or fried carrot cake) whenever he is back on holiday, firmly grounded.

“I am just like any other teenager and I hang out and go dating sometimes … but it is swimming more than anything else,” said Schooling. “A girlfriend can wait too. I know I have expectations to live up to ... I only want news sensible (for me).”

Josh Booth, his schoolmate at Bolles, recalled how fondly Schooling often talks about Singapore.

“He talks about his family sometimes, and how he misses a lot of things back home, including the Chinese noodles,” said Booth.

“We are very close and he told me how much he loves Singapore, and wants to make you guys proud.”

And unlike previous years, the Schoolings will spend Christmas in Singapore this year.

But the only thing on Schooling’s mind now is the SEA Games, and why his need for speed is even greater than before. “We swim for ourselves, but there is a bigger thing than us, and that is Singapore,” he said.

“I will (try to) swim even faster (in Myanmar) because this is a regional meet and Singaporeans will be watching and backing me.”