News

Dr Lam Tai-fai SBS JP, Chairman of the HKSI, congratulates swimmer Siobhan Haughey for winning a silver medal with a new Asian record (1:53.92) in the women’s 200m freestyle event, subsequent to fencer Cheung Ka-long’s recent achievement, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Her medal has not only made Hong Kong history for attaining more than one medal at the Olympic Games, but also is of great significance to the Hong Kong swimming sector, the HKSI, the sports sector and Hong Kong. The HKSI wishes the Delegation to bring Hong Kong more good news at the upcoming events.

Twenty-three-year-old Haughey learned to swim at age of five at a local swimming club and demonstrated her talent at a very young age. She began her training at the University of Michigan in the United States (US) in 2015. Haughey represented Hong Kong in Rio 2016 Olympic Games finishing 13^th overall in the women’s 200m freestyle. She qualified for her second Olympic Games by attaining A standard in 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events. She is currently ranked 6^th and 5^th in the world in 100m and 200m freestyle respectively. Her outstanding achievements are a good proof that local swimmers have the ability to compete with the world sports powerhouses.

Haughey became a HKSI Scholarship Athlete and turned to full-time training after completing her bachelor degree in 2019. She continued her training with Michigan University Swimming Team under the supervision of Coach Richard Bishop. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned Hong Kong and continued her training at the HKSI under the arrangement of the HKSI’s Head Swimming Coach in 2020. To facilitate her Olympic preparation, the HKSI has tailor-made an individualised sports science support programme in strength and conditioning, sport nutrition monitoring, sport biomechanics and sport psychology to improve her condition and techniques. Prior to the Olympic Games, also under the special arrangement of the HKSI’s Head Swimming Coach, Coach Richard Bishop flew from the US to Hong Kong on 27 June to assist her final preparation and accompanied her to Tokyo for on-site coaching support.

The HKSI will, as usual, continue to effectively use the Government resources to lead local elite sports development and work closely with the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and the National Sports Associations to bring local elite sports to a new height. Last but not least, the HKSI sincerely hopes that the Government could inject additional resources into local sports development.