Pro Swim Series: Olympic spot eludes Siobhan Haughey in 50m freestyle, but coach knows Paris race is not a sprint

Haughey outside Paris 2024 qualifying standard in one of her less favoured events, but leaves Florida with Olympic ‘A’ times in two others

Ian Ho manages Olympic ‘B’ time in 50m freestyle and more swimmers will seek to qualify during Hong Kong Sports Institute’s time trial in April

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Siobhan Haughey ended the Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale with two guaranteed Olympic spots. Photo: Swimming Association

Published: 5:11pm, 5 Mar 2023Updated: 9:03pm, 5 Mar 2023

Siobhan Haughey was unable to collect her third Olympic spot of the Pro Swim Series in Florida as she finished outside the qualifying time in the 50 metres freestyle.

With the qualification period having begun on March 1, Haughey had already achieved the “A” standard – guaranteeing a place at the 2024 Paris Games – in the 200m and 400m freestyle at this meet. But it was not to be in the 50m, which is not one of her regular disciplines.

Also in action on Saturday’s final day in Fort Lauderdale was her fellow Hongkonger Ian Ho Yentao, who met the “B” Olympic standard in the men’s 50m freestyle, effectively putting him on the standby list for Paris.

Haughey, whose personal best of 24.59 seconds is inside the Olympic cut of 24.70, finished second in her heat to progress third fastest with a time of 24.88. She improved by 0.03 in the final but remained 0.15 short of the time needed as she finished third.

Ian Ho (left, with Siobhan Haughey and Adam Chillingworth) wants the 50m free’s A qualifying time. Photo: Instagram

American Abbey Weitzeil, winner of the 50m butterfly and 100m free, touched the wall in 24.40, ahead of Polish veteran Katarzyna Wasick in 24.68. Both attained the A-cut time.

Hong Kong head coach Chen Jianhong expressed satisfaction with Haughey’s overall performance and predicted there was “more to come” in next month’s time trial at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

Pro Swim Series: Olympic spot eludes Siobhan Haughey in 50m freestyle, but coach knows Paris race is not a sprint

Haughey outside Paris 2024 qualifying standard in one of her less favoured events, but leaves Florida with Olympic ‘A’ times in two others Ian Ho manages Olympic ‘B’ time in 50m freestyle and more swimmers will seek to qualify during Hong Kong Sports Institute’s time trial in April

Haughey outside Paris 2024 qualifying standard in one of her less favoured events, but leaves Florida with Olympic ‘A’ times in two others

Ian Ho manages Olympic ‘B’ time in 50m freestyle and more swimmers will seek to qualify during Hong Kong Sports Institute’s time trial in April