Siobhan Haughey left trailing in trio’s wake, China’s Tang wins 100m breaststroke gold

Siobhan Haughey failed to medal in the women’s 100 metres freestyle at the World Aquatics Swimming Championship for the first time in three years on Thursday, finishing fourth in a final contested at a blistering pace.

The Hongkonger’s time of 51.41 seconds in Budapest was more than a second slower than winner American Gretchen Walsh, who came home in 50.31, just 0.06 seconds shy of the world record.

France’s Beryl Gastaldello took silver in 50.63, and American Kate Douglass claiming bronze in 50.73.

Such was the speed of the winning trio, that not even Haughey’s personal best time of 50.79, which she managed in 2021, would have earned her a spot on the podium.

The 27-year-old’s time was faster than all three of the 100m events she swam at the World Cup in October and November, where she picked up two golds and a silver.

Walsh, meanwhile, added a second title to the 50m butterfly crown she claimed on Wednesday.