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Paul McNamara

The coach plotting Siobhan Haughey’s Olympics medal quest said his star charge was “looking the best I have seen her” on the eve of competition in Paris.
Haughey is targeting honours in the 100m and 200 metres freestyle, the two events in which she claimed silver in Tokyo three years ago. Her Games begins with 200m heats on Sunday.
Tom Rushton, who began coaching the Hongkonger shortly after her 2021 silver double, said Haughey was even more “excited, focused and purposeful” than before she won 200m world championship gold in Qatar this year.
“Siobhan is all in on this and really excited to represent Hong Kong and be back at the Olympics,” Rushton added.
The Hong Kong swimming team waited until Monday to travel to the French capital, but Rushton was unconcerned by the tight turnaround between landing and competing.

He disclosed Haughey “has a relationship with Cathay Pacific”, which enabled her to fly business class while her teammates had more modest cabin accommodation.
“She had a nice sleep and woke up in France,” Rushton said. “Ideally, she would have come earlier, but there were no problems whatsoever.”
Haughey has not been immune from teething problems affecting both transport and services in the Olympic Village.
“There is not enough food and the layout of the dining room is not ideal,” Rushton said. “It is divided into separate rooms, so you have to commit to one. It has only been a couple of days, though, so it should be fine.”
Talking from the Olympic Village, Rushton nevertheless said he was walking past vending machines that were out of water. Frankie Siu, the nutritionist for the Hong Kong delegation, is staying outside the village and buying extra food to take in to athletes.
Rushton said transport arrangements were “not very good”. The supposed 35-minute journey from the village to the La Defense Arena Olympic swimming venue has been taking as long as one hour, 40 minutes, because of drivers not knowing the route. “Another time it was 35 degrees on the bus, but we couldn’t open windows because we were in a security bubble,” Rushton said.
Security issues on Friday morning following an arson attack on rail lines stalled the village bus service. The delay was not communicated to athletes, however, resulting in roughly 300 swimmers standing around waiting for an hour.
“Overall, though, [organisers] are slowly adapting, so, hopefully, it is getting better,” Rushton said.

Haughey, who is competing in her third Olympics, has taken every problem in her stride, according to Rushton.
“When it is new for people, the village is completely overwhelming,” he said. “When you are experienced, you know how to find your own routine.
“In that bigger environment, Siobhan tends to step up.”
Rushton was comfortable with Haughey accepting Hong Kong flag bearing duties for Friday’s opening ceremony, because of the unique nature of the River Seine event.
“Being on a boat makes it much easier,” Rushton said, adding that two of his other swimmers, Kregor Zirk of Estonia and Israel’s Anastasia Gorbenko declined offers to carry their nation’s flags.
“If it was marching round a stadium that would be worse, but they were able to get away by 9.30pm,” Rushton said.
It was in training at the Olympic setting on Thursday that Rushton said Haughey looked the best he had seen her.
“She is swimming faster and has an easy look about her,” Rushton said. “She doesn’t look strained, which is good, because the speed has to be sustainable throughout the race. We want her to be fast at the end, as well as at the start.”

Rushton said La Defense Arena “looks fantastic … they have done a great job of dressing the competition arena.”
The warm-up and warm-down facilities are “good”, he added, although competitors have a “pretty long walk, including steps up and down” to return to their changing rooms after swimming.
Haughey, whose 100 metres low mark of 52.02 seconds was set in October last year, is targeting personal best swims in both her events. The 26-year-old’s one minute and 53.92 seconds 200m personal best dates back to the Tokyo Olympics.
“The most important thing is to feel she delivered the performance she wanted, which usually means swimming your best time,” Rushton said. “If she does that in the 200m, she is likely to get third or fourth.
“Her best time in the 100 metres would give her a strong chance of making the podium and, perhaps, even winning. The other women are pretty good, though, We can only control what we do and if we do our best, we can, hopefully, end up where we want.”


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Siobhan Haughey at her ‘best’ ahead of Paris Olympic Games, says Hong Kong star’s coach

Siobhan Haughey is in her best form yet as she looks to compete for medals at the Paris Olympic Games. Photo: Tom Rushton


Siobhan Haughey has been training hard as she looks to get on the podium at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Tom Rushton

Siobhan Haughey is at her second Olympic Games which makes her more accustomed to life in the Village. Photo: Tom Rushton

Siobhan Haughey’s coach has no concerns of his pupil’s flag bearing duties during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Photo: Tom Rushton

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Tourists pose for photos with the Olympic rings in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony. Photo: Kyodo

China’s Huang Yuting (left) and Sheng Lihao attend a shooting training session in Chateauroux. Photo: Xinhua

A technician jumps in the water to inspect reproductions of artworks decorating the banks of the River Seine. Photo: AP

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Siobhan Haughey (centre) and other members of  the‍‍‍ swimming team wait at Hong Kong International Airport for their flight to Paris. Photo: Sam Tsang

Paris Olympics: Siobhan Haughey, Cheung Ka-long named Hong Kong flag-bearers for ceremony

Hong Kong’s swimming and table tennis‍‍‍ teams prepare to depart for the Paris Olympics on Monday, including Siobhan Haughey (sixth from right). Photo: Sam Tsang

Siobhan Haughey collects a silver medal in the 100m freestyle at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Photo: Reuters

Siobhan Haughey (third from left) and her swimming teammates check in for their flight to Paris. Photo: Sam Tsang

Paris Olympics: Haughey’s path to glory still clear despite Sjostrom’s 100m shock

Siobhan Haughey (centre) holds up her 100m freestyle gold medal at the 2021 world short-course championships, with silver medallist Sarah Sjostrom (left) and bronze medallist Abbey Weitzeil. Photo: EPA-EFE

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Hong Kong

Haughey is targeting honours in the 100 and 200 metres freestyle, the two events in which she claimed silver in Tokyo three years ago


Haughey is targeting honours in the 100 and 200 metres freestyle, the two events in which she claimed silver in Tokyo three years ago. Her Games begins with 200m heats on Sunday.


Siobhan Haughey (何詩蓓)