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Tokyo Olympics: Siobhan Haughey, the Hong Kong Olympic star who lived up to the hype – and more
- The 23-year-old Olympic silver medallist is a former world junior champion and two-time Youth Olympics silver medallist
- ‘We are very proud that … Siobhan has achieved her goal of making the Olympic podium’, said the Haugheys
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The congratulatory messages have been flooding in for Hong Kong superstar Siobhan Bernadette Haughey after her Olympic silver medal-winning, Asian record-breaking feat in Tokyo. But there is one that will stand out above the rest for the home-grown winner as she attempts to return to Earth.
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“We are very proud that through her hard work, dedication and determination – with the benefit of great coaches at each stage in her career and excellent support professionals throughout – Siobhan has achieved her goal of making the podium at the Olympics,” Haughey’s father Darach told the Post on behalf of the family.
The 23-year-old Haughey, who simultaneously clocked a personal best of 1:53:92 having led the majority of the race before two-time world champion Australian Ariarne Titmus swept in at the final stretch, has only reasserted her status as torch-bearer to guide Hong Kong’s next-generation swimmers.
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Hong Kong’s most successful Olympics ever as swimmer Siobhan Haughey wins silver at Tokyo 2020
Hong Kong’s most successful Olympics ever as swimmer Siobhan Haughey wins silver at Tokyo 2020
The Irish-Hongkonger was already considered the city’s strongest swimmer having smashed (and re-smashed) several local records and making history as the first Hong Kong swimmer to win an Olympic medal. She has been receiving endless praise from fans, the chief executive, former Olympians and even the Consul General of Ireland to Hong Kong.
Touted by many as Hong Kong’s brightest medal hope before the Tokyo Games – with former Hong Kong Olympian swimmer Alex Fong Lik-sun urging fans not to “give her so much pressure” – Haughey duly delivered. Even rival Titmus said reflected post-race that she was “bloody exhausted” because she “knew Siobhan really wanted this” and “knew it would be tough to beat her”.
The impact Haughey’s performance has on Hong Kong’s youth swimmers is incalculable. After watching with friends via screens at the South China Athletic Association (SCAA) pool – where Haughey used to train – 13-year-old Wilson Chan said, “She is the first Hong Kong swimmer to medal so I’m really proud of her. There is a chance [we will do the same] and this is our goal, too.”
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