World Aquatics Swimming World Cup: ‘rusty’ Siobhan Haughey wins in first race since Paris

The Hong Kong star clocked 1 minute and 51.46 seconds in the short-course event in which she is both world record holder and world champion

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Siobhan Haughey finished almost two seconds ahead of the field, and just over outside her own world record. Photo: World Aquatics Swimming World Cup

Published: 8:53pm, 19 Oct 2024Updated: 9:26pm, 19 Oct 2024

Siobhan Haughey has returned to winning ways on her first race since representing Hong Kong at the Paris Olympics, this time picking up gold in the women’s 200 metres freestyle final at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Shanghai.

Haughey punched the wall in one minute and 51.46 seconds in the short-course event in which she is both a world record holder and a world champion.

Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey came second, in 1:53.36, with China’s Kong Yaqi third in 1:55.21.

“[I] haven’t raced short-course in a bit, so I was a little rusty [and] I wasn’t really expecting much, but I think it’s a pretty good time,” Haughey said.

Siobhan Haughey said she was not expecting much before the race. Photo: World Aquatics Swimming World Cup

“Since this is the first race of the season, I really wasn’t expecting to go too fast or anything, but I know my race plan, and I was just trying to stick to that … try to have fun and enjoy it.”

Haughey then switched to Mandarin to thank the home crowd for coming to the SPD BANK Oriental Sports Centre and supporting all the athletes.