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

  • The swimming entries for this summer’s Games confirm Siobhan Haughey’s decision to only compete in the 100m and 200m freestyle

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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

Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey could face world record holders in both the 100 metres and 200m freestyle events at the Paris Olympics, but her path towards a medal could be easier, with some stars opting not to compete.

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The official entry list for the Games’ swimming events, which will take place from July 27 to August 4, has been released and confirmed that Haughey would only compete in two individual events.

Haughey, who had also qualified for the 50m and 400m freestyle and the 100m breaststroke, is also expected to swim with her teammates in the 4x100 medley relay.

Top seed in the 100m, the double Olympic silver medallist could face the world record holder, Sarah Sjostrom, in the final, after the 30-year-old made the surprise decision to enter.

The Swede, who set the world record with a time of 51.71 seconds at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest in 2017, had previously said she would not contest the event.

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Siobhan Haughey: how Hong Kong world-class swimmer stays focused and floating above the pressure

Siobhan Haughey: how Hong Kong world-class swimmer stays focused and floating above the pressure

Haughey is the third-fastest woman of all time in the 100m freestyle after clocking a 52.02 at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Germany in October.

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