IT WAS 10.24am on a school holiday. But more than 140 staff and students gathered in the recreation room of the Singapore Sports School yesterday.

They were there to cheer on their schoolmate, Tao Li, the first Singaporean ever to qualify for an Olympic swimming final.

But Tao Li's 57.99sec effort was just enough for a fifth placing. Cheers turned into groans at the missed opportunity of a medal, but they were full of praise for their friend.