Asian Games 2023: Hong Kong’s golden girl Siobhan Haughey ‘honoured’ to keep winning for her city
- Haughey makes history by winning city’s first ever swimming gold medal at an Asian Games in the 200m freestyle
- Racing in front of her parents and plenty of cheering fans, Haughey clocks a Games record 1:54.12 to win
Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey won the city’s first Asian Games swimming gold ever in the women’s 200 metres freestyle final on Monday, smashing the Games record in the process.
Adding to the excitement at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Aquatic Sports Arena was Ian Ho Yentou, who brought home the first swimming medal won by one of the city’s men in 25 years, finishing second in the 50m freestyle.
A day after earning two bronze – in the 50m breaststroke and 4x100m free relay – Haughey returned to the pool for her main event. Some nine hours after a “relaxed” heat, the Hongkonger chopped more than 6½ seconds off her time to clock a Games record one minute, 54.12 seconds.
It was Haughey’s first gold at an Asian Games too, and she said it was an “honour to win the first swimming gold for this city”.
“Obviously, I wanted to smash my personal record [1:53.92] too, it wasn’t really far off in the end.”
The two-time Olympic silver medallist said there was “massive meaning” in her achievement, especially with her parents watching from the stands.
