Swimming World Cup: Siobhan Haughey destroys elite field after just 13 minutes’ rest

Hongkonger keeps up her Asian Games form with two more wins at World Cup meet in Athens

After finishing a close second in her 50m breaststroke final, Haughey returns to pool moments later to dominate her preferred 100m freestyle

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Siobhan Haughey came away with two victories in the weekend’s World Cup event in Athens. Photo: Twitter/@WorldAquatics

Published: 3:24pm, 16 Oct 2023

Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey continued her excellent form with a first and a second place at a World Cup meet in Athens on Sunday.

An utterly dominant victory in the 100 metres freestyle and a second in the 50 metres breaststroke – not one of her primary events – were added to Saturday’s first place in the 200m freestyle, pushing her medal tally in two World Cup meets to six. She collected two golds and a bronze in Berlin the previous weekend.

Haughey was timed at 30.36 seconds in the 50m breaststroke final, equalling her own Hong Kong record, set three weeks ago at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte was 0.13 seconds quicker to take victory, while Sophie Hansson of Sweden was third, 0.32 behind Haughey.

The Hongkonger was in action again just 13 minutes later in the 100m free final, but her supremacy was never in doubt as she reached the 50-metre mark first in 25.24 before pulling away to win by a distance in 52.55.

Siobhan Haughey triumphed in her favourite 100 and 200m freestyle again in Athens. Photo: Twitter/@WorldAquatics

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom finished second in 53.32, with Bronte Campbell of Australia third, another 0.28 behind.