She came, she saw and she conquered – not once, but four times. Yes, we’re talking about Hong Kong’s ace swimmer Siobhan Haughey, who recently became the most medal-winning Hong Kong Olympian following her stint at the Paris Olympics 2024. Braving fierce competition, the star athlete bagged two bronze medals in women’s 100-metre freestyle and 200-metre freestyle. With her record-extending feat, Haughey has made all Hongkongers beam with pride. To celebrate the swimmer’s historic win, let’s dive into some interesting facts about Siobhan Haughey you ought to know.
From crying her way to swimming lessons in childhood to becoming the first Hong Kong swimmer with an Olympic title – Haughey has turned the tides in her favour. And the Haughey effect has surely been discernible in Hong Kong, with many young folks undertaking swimming lessons looking at her success story. Let’s go down memory lane and navigate her remarkable career.
Facts about Hong Kong’s star Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey
1. Siobhan Haughey didn’t enjoy swimming in her childhood
View this post on Instagram
At four years old, Haughey’s parents enrolled her in swimming lessons. However, she didn’t instantly love the sport and would cry every time she was taken to the classes. According to the South China Morning Post, Haughey said, “I thought it was very boring, just swimming up and down the pool, and I would cry every time I went.”
As fate would have it, Siobhan Haughey soon overcame her inhibitions and was training five times a week by the age of seven. She saw swimming as an opportunity to meet and engage with her friends, which made learning the sport easier for her.
2. She’s the first Hong Kong swimmer to win an Olympic medal
View this post on Instagram
While Haughey has won many world titles in her career, her biggest accolade has been her four-time Olympic victories. Three years ago in Tokyo, she became the first-ever Hong Kong swimmer to win an Olympic medal of any colour after clinching silver medals in 100m and 200m freestyle. Not only this, she also has six Asian Games medals and a short-course world record to her name.
Vivian Kong Man-Wai’s Career Highlights, Historic Olympic Medal, World Ranking And More
A Comprehensive Account Of The Prize Money For Hong Kong Athletes At Paris Olympics 2024
3. She credits her father for introducing her to the world of sports
Born to an Irish father and a Hong Kong mother, Haughey says she got the best of both worlds from her parents. In a conversation with Olympics.com, the swimmer spoke about how her father’s Irish roots introduced her to sports early on in her childhood and she found her calling in swimming. “In Ireland, they play different sports; I think because of my dad, I had the background of playing different sports since a very young age,” she said.
4. Siobhan Haughey won six medals at the 2022 Asian Games, including two gold
Siobhan Haughey continues to shatter records, one world championship at a time. At the 2022 Asian Games, she bagged six medals, including a pair of gold medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre freestyle. Further, she scored a silver in the 50-metre freestyle and bronze in the 50-metre breaststroke, 4×100-metre medley relay and 4×100-metre freestyle relay.
5. She plans to go back to studying and become a clinical child psychologist
View this post on Instagram
Despite her trailblazing success, Siobhan Haughey wants to return to her studies and finally pursue a career as a clinical child psychologist. For those unversed, Haughey is a psychology major from the University of Michigan. Even her medals slowed down in between as she moved out of her hometown to pursue her passion.
6. The swimmer has turned down multiple requests to represent Ireland
View this post on Instagram
The half-Irish athlete has been actively pursued by Ireland to represent the country. However, she stayed loyal to her roots and proudly represented the place she was born and raised in. And Hong Kong is eternally grateful for that. Siobhan Haughey is also a brand ambassador for Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airlines, further solidifying her bond with the city.
7. Her elder sister is also a swimmer who has represented Hong Kong
View this post on Instagram
For Siobhan Haughey, swimming runs in the family. Haughey’s older sister Aisling is also a swimmer, who has represented Hong Kong in multiple amateur competitions. The sister duo trained together in childhood and have actively pursued the sport since.
Which of these facts about Siobhan Haughey did you find most fascinating?
A Look At The Hong Kong Medals Tally At The Paris Olympics 2024
Everything We Know About The Infamous ‘Anti-Sex’ Olympic Beds That Have Made A Comeback
(Hero and feature image credit: siobhanhaughey01/ Instagram)
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Hong Kong
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Siobhan Haughey is an ace swimmer, having four Olympic medals to her name. Among other major world championships, she won six medals at the Asian Games 2022, including two gold.
