66th HONG KONG FESTIVAL OF SPORT
- Saturday, April 15th & Sunday, April 16th
- Hong Kong Sports Institute Swimming Pool
- LCM (50m)
- World Championships Qualifier
- Results
The 66th Hong Kong Festival of Sport concluded over the weekend with the likes of Olympic medalist Siobhan Haughey in the pool to vie for World Championships roster slots.
The 25-year-old former Michigan Wolverine topped the women’s 100m butterfly podium in a time of 58.12, the fastest of her career.
Opening in 27.26 and closing in 30.86, Haughey’s time established a new national record, overtaking Hannah Wilson’s old mark of 58.24 logged at the 2009 World University Games.
Haughey also clocked a time of 24.74 to take the women’s 50m freestyle handily, dipping under the 25.04 needed to qualify for Fukuoka.
She followed suit in the 100m free, posting a gold medal-worthy result of 53.10. Haughey split 25.27/27.83 to get the job done for World Championships qualification and rank 4th in the world on the season in the process.
2022-2023 LCM Women 100 Free
O'Callaghan
52.08
| 2 | Sarah Sjostrom | SWE | 52.24 | 07/23 |
| 3 | Shayna Jack | AUS | 52.28 | 07/23 |
| 4 | Siobhan Haughey | HGK | 52.49 | 07/28 |
| 5 | Emma McKeon | AUS | 52.52 | 06/17 |
Ian Ho, who trains under coach Sergio Lopez out of Virginia Tech, clocked a speedy time of 21.86 in the heats of the men’s 50m free. That registered a new national record, surpassing the previous Hong Kong standard of 21.97 he put on the books 2 years ago.
Ho ultimately won gold in the final with a time of 22.25 but his sub-22 second result dipped under the World Aquatics ‘A’ standard of 22.12 needed for Fukuoka.
He’s now the 4th fastest performer in the world this season.
2022-2023 LCM Men 50 Free
McEvoy
21.06
| 2 | Ryan Held | USA | 21.50 | 07/01 |
| 3 | Florent Manaudou | FRA | 21.56 | 06/15 |
| 4 | Jack Alexy | USA | 21.57 | 07/29 |
| 5 | Benjamin Proud | GBR | 21.58 | 07/29 |
Another World Aquatics ‘A’ standard was achieved, courtesy of Cindy Cheung in the women’s 200m back. Cheung earned gold in a time of 2:10.35, clearing the cut of 2:11.08 with room to spare.
Additional Winners
- Adam Chillingworth posted a new national record in the men’s 200m breast in 2:11.31. That hacked over a second off his previous lifetime best and NR of 2:12.17 from the 2022 British Swimming Championships. Chillingworth also took the 100m breast in a result of 1:02.48. Chillingworth now trains under coach Zoe Baker out of Perth, Australia.
- Ho also topped the men’s 100m free podium in 50.07, with Ming Ho Cheuk right behind in 50.15 as the runner-up. Cheuk upgraded to gold in the 200m free, producing the sole sub-1:50 outing of the field in 1:49.85.
- Stephanie Au made it a 50m back/100m back double, clocking 28.41 in the former and 1:01.23 in the latter.
Szabó Szebasztián’s 50 free (21,89) from Helsinki Swim Meet is missing from the list.
Way to go Ian!!! Awesome swim!
Cindy Cheung is only 16 years old so plenty of growth still. She went a 28.8 in 50m backstroke.
Haughey was just a touch slow on her turn, she could have been under 53. Still a fast time though!
Looks like she’s “back in business”! Will be very curious to see what she may put down in the 200.
The scripts for both W100/200 are far from being finalised.
Mollie and Titmus will take care of her in the 100 and 200 free at Worlds.
Summer beats all in the 200
Summer beats all of them in the 200 free.