Siobhan Haughey strikes gold for Hong Kong in World University Games 100 metres freestyle
The 19-year-old swept to victory in the final in 54.10 seconds for the city’s first gold medal of the games in Taiwan
Swimming star Siobhan Haughey gave Hong Kong their first gold medal of the 2017 World University Games when she triumphed in the women’s 100 metres freestyle in Taiwan on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old delivered one of the best international performances for Hong Kong in recent years to take the blue riband pool event at the games for the world’s elite sporting students.
Haughey, who won the world junior title at the same distance in 2013, was in superb form in the final as she touched home in 54.10 seconds at the National Taiwan Sport University arena in Taipei.
Although she fell short of the Hong Kong record she set on Sunday when she swam in the first leg of the 4x100-metre freestyle relay in 53.83, her effort was enough to capture gold and send the entire Hong Kong camp into raptures.
The Michigan University student said before her departure that her coach did not want her to take part in the Games because it was too close after the World Championships.
But the young starlet wanted to join her older sister and breaststroke swimmer, Aisling, at the Games because they hadn’t competed in a major meet together for many years.
