Road to Paris Olympics: Hong Kong swimmers Siobhan Haughey, Ian Ho, hit A qualifying standard for 2024 Games
- Ho becomes third athlete from city to qualify after winning 50m free heat in 21.86 seconds at Long Course Time Trial
- Haughey hits 100m free mark after reaching A cut in 400m and 200m free in United States last month
Sprinter Ian Ho Yentou bettered his own Hong Kong record and made it to the 2024 Paris Games after winning his heat in the men’s 50 metre freestyle at the Sports Institute on Sunday.
On the second day of the Festival of Sport Long Course Time Trial Championships, Ho clocked 21.86 seconds in heat 6, 0.11 seconds faster than his previous best set two years ago, easily meeting the A qualifying standard for next year’s Olympics of 21.96.
The Tokyo Olympian slowed his pace for the afternoon’s final, which he won in 22.25.
Ho, 25, was the first male swimmer from Hong Kong to reach an A qualifying time when he secured his spot at the Tokyo Games in the same event.
Chen Jianhong, the Hong Kong head coach, said before the event, which was held behind closed doors because officials were afraid athletes could be exposed to Covid-19, that Ho was prepared to make it for a second time.
Star swimmer Siobhan Haughey, who won the 50-metre freestyle on Saturday in a time of 24.74, just fell short of the 24.70 qualifying mark, made amends on the second day, winning the 100-metre freestyle in 53.10.
