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Ada Li

Siobhan Haughey will focus on training smart and hard while using a packed international schedule to prepare for the Asian Games in September.
The Hong Kong Olympian, who is coming off a strong showing at last week’s China Open, plans to adopt a “race as training” approach this season and hopes to keep building from competition itself.
Haughey won two golds and one silver in Shenzhen and said she was satisfied with her progress since returning from injury about six months ago, crediting it to a shift in her philosophy.
“Since I resumed training last September, I have started a new method that focuses more on recovery – not just training hard, but training smart,” she said. “Every day, I adjust my training based on how my body feels. It is not always about choosing the longest or hardest option; if I am a bit tired, how can I adjust to still train effectively and maintain quality?
“So far, the results have been decent. I hope that by continuing this way, I can not only maintain my level but also break through.”

Haughey said one of her main areas of focus this year was “taking good care of my body and putting more effort into recovery” as she competes.
“I have many competitions coming up and I really love racing,” Haughey said. “I think it is a great training method because it shows you exactly where your weaknesses are. I am looking forward to it. Although it is tiring with all the flying and jet lag, I think it is a good experience.”
After next Tuesday’s Cathay 2025 Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards, Haughey will head to Europe to compete in a series of meets as she builds up to the Games in Japan.
Her itinerary includes the Swim Open Stockholm and Bergen Swim Festival in April, followed by the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour in May, which stops in Monaco, Canet-en-Roussillon in France and Barcelona.
Local fans will still have a chance to see her before the Asian Games, as she has been confirmed for the 2026 Hong Kong Open Swimming Championships in August.
Haughey considers last year’s National Games, where she became the first Hongkonger to win gold in the pool, her most impressive competition given she “wasn’t sure where my form stood”.
“I was quite satisfied and even a bit surprised by my performance,”Haughey said. “It showed me that this new training model can deliver results, so I hope it is a direction I should continue. I hope the coming competitions can surprise me too.”
She added her target remained “breaking personal bests”, with the 28-year-old entered in the 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events, as well as the relays, in Aichi-Nagoya.
At the previous edition in Hangzhou, she made history by becoming the first Hong Kong swimmer to win Asian Games gold, finishing with two gold, one silver and three bronze medals – the most won by a local athlete in a single edition.
Looking ahead to Nagoya, Haughey said she expected stiff competition from China’s rising young swimmers, but was confident in Hong Kong’s own new generation.

“There are many young Chinese swimmers who have performed very well in recent years, so I believe they will be well prepared for the Asian Games,” Haughey said. “Hong Kong also has many new talents. I hope they can perform well at such a major event.”
While the Games are her “first important competition” of the year, Haughey has no intention of stopping there, having entered the the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup just one week after the Games has her sights on the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in Beijing this December.
“There is still a long time until October, November and December, so I need to see how my body holds up,” Haughey said. “Whether doing three meets immediately after the Asian Games is too much remains to be seen, but for now, I hope to compete in them.”


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Siobhan Haughey credits her form since returning from injury in September to the shift in her training philosophy. Photo: Karma Lo

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The 28-year-old Olympic medallist says she has been using the new method since returning from injury about six months ago


The 28-year-old Olympic medallist says she has been using the new method since returning from injury about six months ago.


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Siobhan Haughey

Hong Kong star Haughey to adopt ‘race as training’ approach for Asian Games build-up

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The 28-year-old Olympic medallist says she has been using the new method since returning from injury about six months ago

The 28-year-old Olympic medallist says she has been using the new method since returning from injury about six months ago