SIOBHAN HAUGHEY MAKES PARIS OLYMPICS PROMISE TO ‘GIVE HONG KONG PEOPLE A SENSE OF PRIDE’

• Swimmer aims to show Hongkongers 'we might be a small city, but we can do great things' as she targets Games glory

Siobhan Haughey has set herself the target of swimming faster than ever before at the Paris Olympics, and said success for Hong Kong could have an inspirational impact on the city.

Three years after Haughey twice put Hong Kong on the podium at the Tokyo Games, she is aiming to again fly its flag with distinction on sport's biggest stage in France.

The 26-year-old will be a medal contender in the 100 and 200 metres freestyle, having won silver in both in 2021.

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And she said she hoped to help spark a sense of pride that would be felt across her hometown during the Games in late July and early August.

"I think it'll be tremendous for the city," Haughey told the Post. "Like we saw in Tokyo, people come together in malls, bars and restaurants to support Hong Kong athletes.

"I feel it will have the same effect in Paris, especially if Hong Kong athletes do well ... I think it'll give Hong Kong people a sense of pride and let them know that we might be a small city, but we can do great things, and there is no limit to how far we can go or how much we can achieve."

What she herself could achieve is partly a matter of time. In between collecting short-course and long-course world titles, Haughey last October swam her quickest ever 100m freestyle, although Tokyo remains the scene of her fastest 200m.

Exceeding herself again is the focus as she trains hard in Slovakia. She intends to enjoy the Games, too, packing "favourite snacks" and the latest titles sent to her by Chanel - for which she is an ambassador - via its book club.

"I'm someone who performs my best when I'm not under too much pressure," Haughey said. "Heading into this Olympics, the way I approach it is that I want to make sure I'm having fun.

"My approach is also more about a competition with myself than with other people. As long as I get a best time, I will be happy. Getting on the podium is kind of a bonus.

"I know how hard I've been training and I know what I'm capable of. I just want to swim a race that reflects my training."

The support of Hongkongers would help to push her on at the Paris La Defense Arena, she said.

"I keep getting messages from people saying they bought tickets to watch my races at the Olympics," she said. "It'll be nice to hear someone in the crowd cheer for me and I get energy from that.

"[Hongkongers] are always behind me, and they're going to support me no matter what. I'm very grateful and thankful.

"People often come up to me and say, 'Oh, you're doing a really good job. You inspired me to start swimming again.' Someone even told me that they quit their job because they saw how I followed my passion, and now they want to follow theirs."

The 200m freestyle will be fiercely contested, with world champion Haughey likely to meet the two fastest in history, Australia's Ariarne Titmus - the Tokyo gold medallist - and Mollie O'Callaghan. Asked what it would take to win, Haughey cited mental preparation and a cool head.

"My coach always says they don't hand out medals before the race - they're only handed out after," she said. "So it doesn't matter what you did before Paris. I think whoever can stay calm and perform and execute the best race will be the winner."

That said, Haughey does have tactics up her sleeve.

"I don't want to give away all my secrets, but in Tokyo, my focus was to go out fast and see if I could hang on," she said.

"Now I have a bit more experience, so I know how to split my races better. It's about having more control and building throughout the race, rather than swimming fast and see and just hope I don't die at the end."

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

2024-07-03T23:28:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd