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Tokyo 2020: Siobhan Haughey’s historic silver medal celebrated by past Hong Kong Olympic swimmers

  • Ronnie Wong, Karen Robertson and Robyn Lamsam raised the bar and paved the way for Haughey’s breakthrough
  • Lamsam, Hong Kong’s first individual swimming medallist, says Haughey can add to her collection

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Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong looks on after winning silver in the women’s 200m freestyle final at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Reuters

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Past Olympic swimmers paid tribute to Siobhan Haughey on Wednesday after she became the first Hong Kong athlete to win a medal in the pool since their debut at the 1952 Helsinki Games.

Ronnie Wong Man-chiu (1968 and 1972), Karen Robertson (1976) and Robyn Lamsam (1992) were among the pioneers of their era as the standard of swimming in Hong Kong improved slowly but steadily over the decades.

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Hong Kong’s most successful Olympics ever as swimmer Siobhan Haughey wins silver at Tokyo 2020

Hong Kong’s most successful Olympics ever as swimmer Siobhan Haughey wins silver at Tokyo 2020
Their groundbreaking efforts were finally rewarded when Haughey won a silver medal on Wednesday in the women’s 200m freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“Of course we are very happy and excited for the first ever Olympic medal for Hong Kong in swimming,” said Hong Kong Olympic Committee official Wong, 69, who competed in six events at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and three in Munich 1972. “Our respect and support for our athletes has paid off and we are looking for more good results.”

Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, the Hong Kong Olympic Committee’s honorary secretary who swam at the 1968 and 1972 Games. Photo: Chan Kin-wa
Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, the Hong Kong Olympic Committee’s honorary secretary who swam at the 1968 and 1972 Games. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Karen Robertson, a partner in FloatPlus which conducts swimming lessons at clubs and residential completes in Hong Kong, took part in the 100m and 200m women’s freestyle races at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

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