Meet Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey, the hometown hero who won two Olympic silver medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games

Jul 28 , 2021

Swimmer Siobhan Haughey represents Hong Kong at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the women’s 200-metre freestyle final on July 28. Photo: @siobhanhaughey01/Instagram

After Edgar Cheung Ka-long delivered Hong Kong’s second-ever gold medal, Siobhan Haughey just took two silvers – in the women’s 200m and 100m freestyle

She shares the same tattoo as diver Tom Daley, archer Brady Ellison and gymnast Vanessa Ferrari – but sorry, her Arena x Haughey swimwear collab is all sold out

There are 46 Olympians representing Hong Kong this year at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and the city couldn’t be more excited. Just two days ago, Edgar Cheung Ka-long delivered Hong Kong’s second-ever gold medal – and first in 25 years – after winning the fencing individual foil on Monday. His name and the hashtag #fencing has been trending in the region ever since.

Another hometown favourite, Siobhan Haughey, has now claimed two historic silver medals for Hong Kong – finishing second in the women’s 200-metre freestyle final on Wednesday (July 28) and Friday’s (July 30) 100-metre freestyle final. Her success also marks the first time a Hong Kong swimmer has reached an Olympic final, and we have no doubt that everyone in the city has been cheering the freestyler on.

So here’s what we know about the 23-year-old Olympic star.

She’s been swimming since she was a toddler

Haughey’s parents, who also loved swimming, taught their two daughters how to swim at the pool at their home complex, before later taking Siobhan and her older sister Aisling to a swim club nearby.

Siobhan Haughey and her older sister Aisling as kids. Photo: Handout

There, Haughey started swimming lessons – at age four. The rest is Olympic history!

She’s got the tattoo

It’s probably the only tattoo that tiger mums would allow and, according to Haughey, it’s the only one she’d ever get.

Siobhan Haughey in the Olympic swimming time trial at the Hong Kong Sports Institute’s swimming pool. Photo: Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association

The iconic tattoo of the Olympic rings is considered a rite of passage for many Olympians, including archer Brady Ellison, gymnast Vanessa Ferrari and diver Tom Daley – who Haughey has also met.