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Paul McNamara

The coach who inspired Siobhan Haughey’s double-bronze medal Paris Olympics campaign has said Hong Kong swimming chief Ronnie Wong Man-chiu’s comments about the achievement were “disappointing and inexperienced”.
Wong, the chairman of the Hong Kong China Swimming Association, claimed Haughey’s third place in Wednesday’s women’s 100m freestyle final was “a bit regretful”.
Tom Rushton said Haughey had alerted him to Wong’s verdict in the early hours of Thursday, and thought the quote was “not good”.
The experienced Rushton also sprang to the defence of Pan Zhanle, whose blistering men’s 100m freestyle final performance prompted more insinuations around the credibility of Chinese feats in the pool.
Pan lowered his personal best by 0.4 seconds to win in a world record 46.40. Rushton pointed out that American Torri Huske was praised for “working so hard” after improving her best 100m freestyle time by 0.63 seconds to claim silver ahead of Haughey.


“A lot of these online commenters are American, nobody said anything about [Huske], who dropped her PB nearly twice as much,” Rushton told the Post.
Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden, who was working with Rushton when she established the current women’s 100m freestyle world record in 2017, won the Olympic final in 52.16. Haughey’s time of 52.33, only fractionally slower than the 52.27 she recorded for Tokyo Olympics silver, earned bronze to add to the same colour medal she won in the 200m freestyle.
Speaking on radio, Wong said: “I am happy we finished third, but of course I have regrets. It is a bit regretful she only ended up with bronze.”
Rushton, who was “super happy” with Haughey’s swim, said: “It is a bit disappointing, and an inexperienced quote.
“Siobhan is the first woman to medal twice in both the 100m and 200m freestyle. If it was easy, everybody would have those results. I am very proud of Siobhan, I know how much work she has done, and how much work myself and the support team have put in. But if it’s so easy, great, I guess [Hong Kong] will have many more medals to come, and I look forward to those from the association.”
Rushton revealed Haughey sent him Wong’s comment at around 2am on Thursday morning.
“I had seen it might have been mistranslated, so asked her to find the source,” Rushton said. “She listened to the original and said it was not a good comment, not a comment you would expect. We’ll follow up and discuss it.”
While only 0.18 seconds separated Sjostrom from Mollie O’Callaghan in fourth, with last-placed Gretchen Walsh 0.88 seconds behind the winner, Pan finished 1.08 ahead of silver medallist Kyle Chalmers in the men’s race.
Rushton said Hong Kong’s most decorated Olympic athlete “was one of the greatest freestylers we’ve seen”.
“She has the third fastest 100m freestyle in history, the seventh fastest 200m freestyle time, four Olympic medals, and world and Asian gold medals,” Rushton said. “She has done a fantastic job.”
Haughey has raised doubts over whether she will continue that job after the Summer Games.
“Siobhan has so many options and will succeed in whatever she does,” Rushton said. “I love working with her, so selfishly I would like her to continue.
“We have talked about options towards the world short course championships in December: whether she wants to go, or if she wants to go and still carry on afterwards.
“Regardless of her decision, this is a great time for a break. After a few weeks we will figure out the next steps.”


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics: Siobhan Haughey ‘not happy’ with swim chief’s medal comments, says coach

Siobhan Haughey proudly displays her Olympic bronze medals for the women’s 100m and 200m freestyle at the Champions Park. Photo: Xinhua

Paris Olympics: Zhang Yufei’s swimming bronze sparks sympathy, fury on Chinese social media

China’s Yufei Zhang (right) won the bronze medal as United States pair Torri Huske (centre) won the gold and Gretchen Walsh the silver in the women’s 100m butterfly. Photo: Reuters

An emotional Yufei Zhang as she receives her bronze medal after the women’s 100-metre butterfly. Photo: Reuters

Who is China’s tennis star Zheng Qinwen? ‘Queen Wen’ a match away from Paris Olympic glory

China’s Zheng Qinwen has taken the women’s singles tennis event by storm at the Paris Olympics and is one win away from a gold medal. Photo: Xinhua

Zheng Qinwen stunned the tennis world when she overcame Iga Swiatek in Paris. Photo: Xinhua

Li Na’s 2011 triumph at Roland Garros acted as inspiration for Zheng Qinwen’s tennis career. Photo: EPA

Pan Zhanle: Paris Olympics record-breaking swimmer who stands up to US, Australian rivals

China’s Pan Zhanle clutches his gold medal on the podium in Paris. Photo: dpa

Pan Zhanle warms up before the race in which he broke the world record at the La Defense Arena. Photo: AFP

Pan Zhanle celebrates his victory and world record in the Olympic 100m freestyle final. Photo: Xinhua

Pan Zhanle’s Olympic gold medal win ‘not humanly possible’, Australian coach says

China’s Pan Zhanle (centre) won the gold medal in the 100m freestyle but the coach of Australia’s Kyle Chalmers (left) expressed suspicion. Photo: Reuters

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle stormed to victory in record-breaking fashion in the 100-metre freestyle. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Aquatics

China

Hong Kong swimming chief called Haughey’s bronze in 100m freestyle ‘a bit regretful’, and coach Tom Rushton says remarks ‘disappointing’


Hong Kong swimming chief Ronnie Wong called Haughey’s bronze in 100m freestyle ‘a bit regretful’, and coach Tom Rushton says remarks ‘disappointing’.


Swimming

Siobhan Haughey (何詩蓓)