Whenever we talk about multi-medallists at the Olympics, names of legends such as Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps come to mind. However, we tend to forget that a few athletes from Asia have also achieved this remarkable feat and our own Siobhán Haughey is one of them.
One of Hong Kong’s finest athletes, Haughey won two silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Therefore, our expectations from her were quite high, with many hoping she would claim a medal in 2024 as well. And boy, she did not disappoint us on that front.
On Monday, 29 July 2024, the skilled swimmer won the bronze medal in the women’s 200-metre freestyle event. Interestingly, Cheun Ka Long won a historic gold medal in fencing on the same day. For Hong Kongers, it was poetic justice (of sorts) as both our flagbearers from the opening ceremony won medals.
However, Haughey’s thirst for success was hardly quenched with a solitary Olympic medal in 2024. A couple of days later on 31 July, she won a second bronze medal (this time in the women’s 100-metre freestyle event), thereby taking her overall tally of Olympic medals up to four.
With these wins, Haughey has etched her name in the history books by becoming the first Hong Kong athlete to secure four Olympic medals. She also joins Lee Wai-sze, a former track cyclist, and Ka Long in a very exclusive group that includes Hong Kong athletes who have won medals in multiple editions of the Olympics. For context, Wai-sze won bronze medals in 2012 and 2021, while Ka Long won his first gold medal in 2021.
So, as we celebrate the legendary feat of our champion swimmer at the Paris Olympics 2024, here’s a closer look at the career highlights of Siobhán Haughey, including her world records, medals and more.
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Siobhán Haughey’s medals, world records and other career highlights
Her early days in the world of swimming
Siobhán Haughey earned the moniker of child prodigy when she won the gold medal in the 100-metre freestyle event at the 2013 World Junior Championships. By virtue of her feat, she also became the first swimmer from Hong Kong to secure a medal in the competition’s history. Later that year, she sent ripples (literally!) in the world of swimming by winning seven medals — two silver and five bronze — at the East Asian Games.
The following year, Haughey won two silver medals — in the women’s 100-metre freestyle and the 200-metre individual medley events — at the Youth Olympics. She also won three bronze medals at the 2014 Asian Games, thereby cementing her spot as one of the best swimmers of her generation.
While she secured a spot at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won her heat in the 200-metre freestyle event, Haughey finished sixth in the semi-finals and 13th overall, thereby bowing out of the marquee meet. Nevertheless, she became the first Hong Kong-based swimmer to advance beyond the heats at the Olympics.
In 2017, Haughey suffered another heartbreak when she finished fifth in the women’s 200-metre freestyle event at the World Aquatics Championships. However, she did script history by becoming the first swimmer from Hong Kong to reach the finals of the mega sports meet. Fortunately, the year ended on a positive note for her as Haughey won two gold medals — in the women’s 100-metre freestyle and 200-metre freestyle divisions — at the Taipei Universiade.
Haughey’s meteoric rise in the swimming fraternity
It seemed like luck was not in Siobhán Haughey’s favour as the Hong Kong-based swimmer finished short of a podium place by a cat’s whisker in the 200-metre freestyle event at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships. However, despite her inability to win a medal at the World Championships, everyone knew the threat Haughey posed to her opponents.
The Tokyo Olympics in 2021 served as an important milestone in Siobhán Haughey’s career. She won two silver medals — in the 100-metre freestyle and the 200-metre freestyle events and by doing so, scripted the following records:
- The first swimmer from Hong Kong to win a medal at the Olympics,
- The first athlete from Hong Kong to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics,
- The second athlete from Hong Kong (after Lee Wai-sze) to win multiple medals at the Olympics.
Haughey carried her purple patch of form to the International Swimming League later that year. She went undefeated throughout the season in the 200-metre freestyle event. Additionally, she set a new record of 50.79 seconds in the 100-metre freestyle category.
The Hong Konger ended 2021 on a brilliant note when she won the gold medal in the 200-metre freestyle event at the 2021 Short Course World Championships. In the process, she broke the world record by 0.12 seconds and became the first-ever Hong Kong-based swimmer to win a medal in the event’s history. Haughey followed up her historic gold medal win with another gold medal a few days later, this time in the 100-metre freestyle category. She also won a bronze medal in the 400-metre freestyle division.
Becoming one of the best swimmers in the world
At the 2022 Short Course World Championships, Siobhán Haughey successfully defended her gold medal in the 200-metre freestyle category, though she had to settle for a silver medal in the 100-metre freestyle division.
Haughey redeemed herself at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships when she won the silver medal in the 200-metre freestyle division and became the first Hong Kong-based swimmer to win a medal at the sports meet.
The Asian Games in Hangzhou, China later that year were highly rewarding for Haughey as well. She won two gold (in the 100-metre and 200-metre freestyle categories), a silver (in the 50-metre freestyle category) and three bronze (in the 50-metre breaststroke, 4×100-metre freestyle relay and 4×100-metre medley relay categories) medals. In the process, she broke multiple records, including the Asian one for the 100-metre freestyle division.
A year later, the Hong Kong-based swimmer won three medals at the World Aquatics Championships — a gold (in the 200-metre freestyle category), a silver (in the 100-metre freestyle division) and a bronze (in the 100-metre breaststroke event). With her gold medal win, Haughey became the first-ever world swimming champion from Hong Kong.
The two bronze medals she won at the Paris Olympics 2024 have now placed Siobhán Haughey in the pantheon of the greatest swimmers seen at the marquee sports meet.
Who is Siobhán Haughey’s coach?
British swimming coach Tom Rushton is the mastermind behind Siobhán Haughey’s widespread success across international competitions.
Rushton was born to parents who both represented Great Britain at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Therefore, it is no surprise that he had an affinity for sports from a young age.
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(Main and Featured Images Credits: SIOBHÁN HAUGHEY (何詩蓓)/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Siobhán Haughey has won the most medals for Hong Kong at the Olympics. She is also the first swimmer from Hong Kong to win a medal at the World Championships.
Siobhán Haughey has won over 30 medals in her career. This includes her medals at the Olympics, the Asian Games and the World Championships.
Siobhán Haughey’s coach is Tom Rushton.
For her widespread achievements, Siobhán Haughey has received the Best of the Best Hong Kong Sports Stars Award for Women twice (in 2021 and 2022). She also received the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 2019.
