Siobhan Haughey Wins Hong Kong’s First-Ever Olympic Swimming Medal in 200 Free

2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Siobhan Haughey won Hong Kong’s first-ever Olympic medal in swimming Wednesday morning at the Tokyo Olympic Games, touching the wall 2nd in 1:53.92 behind victor Ariarne Titmus of Australia who won gold in 1:53.50.

Haughey’s time of 1:53.92 is also a new Hong Kong National Record as well as a new Asian Continental Record, lowering her previous mark of 1:54.44 set in August 2020.

Comparative Splits

Haughey – Old Asian Record (2020) Haughey – New Asian Record (2021)
26.35 26.77
28.86 28.33
29.65 29.08
29.58 29.74
1:54.44 1:53.92

Since Hong Kong’s debut on the Olympic stage in 1952, the nation has only won 6 Olympic medals including Haughey’s silver medal Wednesday.

Haughey’s appearance in the final would have been historic without a medal as it also marked the first time any swimmer from Hong Kong had appeared in an Olympic swimming final.

In addition to her silver medal, Haughey will take home $322,000 in prize money awarded to her by Hong Kong’s National Olympic Committee. While nearly 10 times more than American athletes are paid for winning a gold medal ($37,500), it is nonetheless a lower payout than Indonesia ($378,000) and Singapore ($372,000) pay their Olympic silver medalists.

Haughey, who trains the University of Michigan, lead a two-month long assault on Hong Kong and Asian Records during the second season of the International Swimming League in the fall of 2020 in Budapest, and also became the 2nd-fastest all-time in the 200 SCM freestyle in November.

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Coach Mike 1952
2 years ago

She was simply beaming. So glad for her amazing swim. Congratulation! Is it true now she is only the 4th woman in history under 1:54?

Last edited 2 years ago by Coach Mike 1952
Old Man Chalmers
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
2 years ago

5th overall, but 4th in textile. the last 4 olympic champs in this event, plus haughey, went under 1:54, but pellegrini only did it in 2009

Last edited 2 years ago by Old Man Chalmers
STRAIGHTBLACKLINE
2 years ago

She made it a closer race than I expected. Does anyone know why Hong Kong is represented at the Olympics when it is now officially part of the People’s Republic of China?

Boomer
2 years ago

So happy for Haughey! She’s gonna one to watch in the 100 as well

Suny Cal
2 years ago

What a nice payout she gets from her country!!!

Wyh
Reply to  Suny Cal
2 years ago

It will end up much much more than this amount. It is just a prize sponsored by a company! She will get more from other companies!

Dan Gains
2 years ago

She is amazing!

About Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson

Reid Carlson originally hails from Clay Center, Kansas, where he began swimming at age six.  At age 14 he began swimming club year-round and later with his high school team, making state all four years.  He was fortunate enough to draw the attention of Kalamazoo College where he went on to …

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