Hong Kong’s Haughey facing battle just to medal in 100m freestyle at world championships
Hongkonger Siobhan Haughey qualifies fifth fastest for final, as China’s Tang Qianting sets Asian record in women’s 100m breaststroke
Siobhan Haughey looks like having a battle on her hands just to win a medal in the 100 metres freestyle at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Budapest, let alone bag gold.
The Hongkonger finished fourth in her star-studded semi-final, coming home in 51.83 seconds at the Duna Arena in the early hours of Thursday morning, Hong Kong Time.
French world champion Beryl Gastaldello was fastest in 51.56 seconds, three-time world record holder Kate Douglass second in 51.67, and Daria Klepikova third in 51.68.
Even then, the quickest time of the evening was posted by Gretchen Walsh, who set a championship record of 50.49 in the second semi-final, finishing more than 1.5 seconds faster than her nearest rival, Briton Freya Anderson, the only other swimmer to qualify from that race, with a time of 52.07.
American Walsh now goes into the final, which is scheduled for Friday at 12.32am (HKT), as the firm favourite to win the world title. And just an hour later, Walsh won gold in the 50m butterfly, finishing in 24.01.
“I feel like no record can compare to a title like that, to be a world champion is the coolest thing ever, I’m happy to be here and happy to get my hand on the wall first,” Walsh said.
