Siobhan Haughey Smashes 52.02 Asian Record In 100 Free, #3 Performer All-Time

2023 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP – BERLIN

Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey just put up the fastest 100m freestyle of her career to take gold on the final night of action in Berlin.

Competing on day 3 of the first stop of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, 25-year-old Haughey ripped a winning time of 52.02.

That saw the Olympic multi-medalist handily beat out both Cate Campbell of Australia and Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden Campbell settled for silver over a second behind in a time of 53.26 while Sjostrom bagged bronze in 53.39.

As for Haughey, she opened in 25.08 and brought it home in 26.94 to establish a new World Cup series record. The previous standard stood at the 52.34 Campbell put on the books during the 2019 circuit.

Haughey’s best-ever outing entering this competition rested at the 52.17 she notched just over a week ago at the 2023 Asian Games. There in Hangzhou, Haughey split 25.16/27.01 to log a new Asian Record, so her swim this evening took down that mark by .15.

Her result this evening renders her the #3 performer in history with Paris 2024 less than one year away.

Top 5 Women’s LCM 100 Freestyle Performers All-Time

  1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 51.71, 2017
  2. Emma McKeon (AUS) – 51.96, 2021
  3. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 52.02, 2023
  4. Cate Campbell (AUS) – 52.03, 2018
  5. Simone Manuel (USA) – 52.04, 2019

Haughey took the silver medal in this women’s 100m free event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, hitting a result there of 52.27, a then-Asian record before she lowered it in Hangzhou.

Below is a split comparison from Haughey’s 3-fastest performances.

Haughey’s Asian Record Tonight Haughey’s Asian Record from 2023 Asian Games Haughey’s Asian Record from 2020 Olympic Games
25.08 25.16 25.10
26.94 27.01 27.17
52.02 52.17 52.27

Haughey already took bronze in the 400m free in Berlin a new Hong Kong Record of 4:05.30 and also nabbed the 200m free gold last night in a new World Cup Record of 1:55.10.

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MSNBCwimSwam
1 year ago

Interesting while it lasted.

MSNBCwimSwam
Reply to  MSNBCwimSwam
1 year ago

Siobhan sub 51.50! Yeah, baby!

jablo
1 year ago

you fixed the chart but still say she’s #4

Nick the biased Aussie
1 year ago

Love this. Womens 100m free getting very exciting. Good for MOC to go in not as favourite, that’s if she qualifies.
Siobhan definitely going in as the favourite now.

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
1 year ago

She’s hardly the favorite based on a couple of fast times. That’s not how oddsmaking works. The same mistake was made here in 200 butterfly with Smith and McIntosh.

If Haughey makes this a habit and Mollie regresses toward Paris, Haughey could become a small favorite. But the most recent champion always earns heavy benefit of a doubt.

Last edited 1 year ago by Awsi Dooger
Fukuoka Gold
1 year ago

Haughey should focus on 100 free as her main event.

She has a chance for gold in 100.

Nick the biased Aussie
Reply to  Fukuoka Gold
1 year ago

Maybe just keep doing what she’s doing now. Only small tweaks.

Sub13
1 year ago

I had MOC as heavy favourite going into Paris but just goes to show anything can happen!

Haughey now owns the fastest time since Tokyo. MOC isn’t far off and is younger and on the rise still. McKeon still fastest in the last 5 years but was off form this year. Sjostrom is the WR holder but hasn’t been within 0.5 of her WR since 2017. Then there are a few dark horses who could swoop in if the top swimmers aren’t on their game.

Sapiens Ursus
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

Since her elbow injury I think Sjostrom has narrowed her focus to the 50s. As good as she still is in the 100 I think the likes of MOC and Haughey are getting away from her.

Klorn8d
1 year ago

Where is she training these days? At LSU with bishop?

oxyswim
Reply to  Klorn8d
1 year ago

In Israel with Tom Rushton. Was in Asia for much longer this year with worlds and Asian games. Stayed over there in between.

Fukuoka Gold
Reply to  Klorn8d
1 year ago

Hong Kong and Israel

Willswim
Reply to  Fukuoka Gold
1 year ago

Seems like she’s found a good fit with her training in Israel. It’s obviously trivial in the big picture of what’s going on, but let’s hope the recent events in the area don’t upset the success she’s been having.

Swim Alchemist
1 year ago

I mentioned it before, but she should go all-in for the 100 Free at the Olympics (and maybe even Doha World Champs.)

kevin
Reply to  Swim Alchemist
1 year ago

She wont beat Molly or Emma Paris

‘Murica
Reply to  kevin
1 year ago

McKeon’s best time is only 6 hundredths ahead and she’ll be 30 at the next Olympics

Nick the biased Aussie
Reply to  kevin
1 year ago

With that sort of form you can never say never, I hope she wraps herself in cotton wool and stays healthy.

LBSWIM
Reply to  kevin
1 year ago

Sounds like the confidence of someone who would have said Misty Hyman won’t beat Susie or Petria…..

2Fat4Speed
Reply to  Swim Alchemist
1 year ago

I agree that training focus should focus on the 100, but with that I think she also snags a medal in the 200. It is unlikely she is swimming relays so she can still be fresh.

flicker
Reply to  2Fat4Speed
1 year ago

I also think she has good chance of medalling in the 200 since Summer will either drop it or it’ll come after the 4IM final (I would also mention Mollie having the 100 back semi beforehand but if she hasn’t been trying the 100 back/200 free double the past few years she’s not going to suddenly do it in Paris)

James Richards
Reply to  2Fat4Speed
1 year ago

MOC, Titmus, McIntosh will probably be on 200 podium in Paris.

They are considerably faster and younger.

Andy
Reply to  2Fat4Speed
1 year ago

MOC and titmus would have to be favoured for gold and silver in the 200 and summer will be on the rise. Haughey’s best shot is to go all in on the 100 training

James Richards
Reply to  Andy
1 year ago

I agree.

One gold is better than one or two minor medals.

John26
1 year ago

Despite the “wall” of 52.0’s, sjostrom’s WR still feels relatively safe

Nono
Reply to  John26
1 year ago

I think the best chance to do it is as a lead off in 4×100 free just like how Sarah did it. Relatively, they are not that fatigued yet as 4×100 free is always in the first night of the meet.

Emma could have done it in Tokyo (or close to it) but she was used in in the third leg. She did a 51.3 split

With all the 51-flat and 51-low relay splits of Cate, you could argue that a 51.7 flat start was a possibility. But she is always used as a relay anchor. Also, i feel like Cate has a different kind of mental switch in a relay which works out well for her compared to an… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Nono
Troyy
Reply to  Nono
1 year ago

Emma really should’ve been given that opportunity in Tokyo. Bronte always delivers great splits so swapping them might have even made the relay faster.

swimswam12
Reply to  Troyy
1 year ago
  • think they wanted to give emma more rest after the 1 fly semis earlier in the session.
Miss M
Reply to  swimswam12
1 year ago

And it was day 1. No one has any idea just how well Emma was going to swim that meet.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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