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Paul McNamara

The Australian golden girls rivalling Siobhan Haughey for Olympic 200 metres freestyle prizes have warned they are only just getting started in Paris.
Haughey qualified fifth fastest for the semi-finals and was not expected to encounter any problems confirming her place in a talent-packed final on Monday.
The Hongkonger said she was swimming in second gear when clocking one minute, 56.38 seconds to finish second behind Li Binjie of China in her heat.
“I’ve been preparing for a long time and my goal was to make it to the semi-finals without having to spend too much energy on swimming,” Haughey said. “I’m happy with the way I competed.”

Mollie O’Callaghan, who swam a turbocharged opening leg when Australia won 4x100 metres freestyle gold on Saturday, duly swam 1:55.79 to win her heat. Next into the pool was Ariarne Titmus, the 23-year-old superstar who pipped Haughey to 200m freestyle gold in Tokyo three years ago.
Titmus cruised to a time of 1:56.23, four seconds short of her world record 1:52.23. When Titmus subsequently said she “felt sluggish in the water”, barely 12 hours after winning 400m freestyle gold on Saturday night, her words felt like an ominous warning to Haughey and the rest of the field.
The next words from a woman who has been christened Arnie in her homeland could be interpreted as a threat to terminate the dreams of those wanting to wrest away her 200m Olympic crown.
“Saturday [400m win] was a big night, but I had a pretty good rest and tried to forget it as much as I could,” Titmus said.
“All my focus is now on the 200m. I want to comfortably reach the final, then I will get ready for Monday.”
The semi-finals are scheduled for around 3.50am Hong Kong time. Assuming Haughey’s safe progress to the final, the city will need to rise early on Tuesday to watch the 26-year-old try to replicate Vivian Kong Man-wai’s fencing gold medal heroics.

A final scheduled for precisely 3.41am will also feature O’Callaghan, barring something extraordinary. The 20-year-old is competing in Olympic individual events for the first time, after going to Tokyo as a relay swimmer.
Despite her tender years, last year’s 100m and 200m freestyle world champion is evidently not averse to employing mind games to unsettle her competitors.
“This is my first time swimming individual events, the pressure is on past Olympics champions and Olympians,” she said. “I am building step-by-step, the heats just build towards the final.”
O’Callaghan, nonetheless, acknowledged she was “so nervous” before leading off in Saturday’s relay.
“There is pressure and expectation [on me], I want to do well for Australia, for my swim team, for everyone,” O’Callaghan said. “It was good to have that [relay] swim with the girls to start off [my Games].”

Unlike O’Callaghan and Titmus, Haughey did not speak to the written media on Sunday, instead apologising and saying she “had to go”.
She will have to go some to overcome her two Aussie rivals, while Chinese Li, the 400m bronze medallist from Tokyo, emerged as anther podium contender with her 1:56.28 heat swim. Sophie Mary-Harvey of Canada also dipped beneath Haughey’s heat time, finishing in 1:56.21.
Talking to television for the first time since carrying Hong Kong’s flag at Friday’s opening ceremony, Haughey said: “I don’t have any words to describe [the experience]. We’re all just very proud to represent our city. Hopefully, we can perform well and have some good results for Hong Kong.”


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics: Australians throw down gauntlet to Hong Kong’s Haughey in 200m freestyle

Siobhan Haughey’s Paris Olympics campaign is under way. Photo: AFP

Haughey will need to be quick off the blocks to get the better of her 200 metres freestyle rivals. Photo: AFP

Ariarne Titmus is turning her attention to 200 metres glory after winning gold in the 400m. Photo: AP 

Relay champion Mollie O’Callaghan is targeting her first individual Olympic honours. Photo: Reuters

Paris Olympics: 5 to watch on day 2 as Siobhan Haughey swims, US enter fray in basketball

Siobhan Haughey is poised to start her medal quest in Paris. Photo: AP

Australia’s Ariarne Titmus has been in ominous form in the 200m freestyle. Photo: Reuters

China’s women’s rugby sevens team celebrating qualifying for the 2025 world series. Photo: Handout

US forward LeBron James attacks during a warm-up match against Germany in London last week. Photo: AP

Paris Olympics: Siobhan Haughey right to rest for 200m freestyle, Hong Kong relay team say

Siobhan Haughey is focused on her 200 metres freestyle, which starts on Sunday. Photo: AP

Hong Kong’s relay quartet of (from left) Natalie Kan, Camille Cheng, Tam Hoi-lam and Stephanie Au. Photo: SF&OC

Siobhan Haughey at her ‘best’ ahead of Paris Olympic Games, says Hong Kong star’s coach

Siobhan Haughey is in her best form yet as she looks to compete for medals at the Paris Olympic Games. Photo: Tom Rushton


Siobhan Haughey has been training hard as she looks to get on the podium at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Tom Rushton

Siobhan Haughey is at her second Olympic Games which makes her more accustomed to life in the Village. Photo: Tom Rushton

Siobhan Haughey’s coach has no concerns of his pupil’s flag bearing duties during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Photo: Tom Rushton

Paris Olympics: Hongkongers urged to become 7 million-strong ‘cheerleading team’

Tourists pose for photos with the Olympic rings in Paris ahead of the opening ceremony. Photo: Kyodo

China’s Huang Yuting (left) and Sheng Lihao attend a shooting training session in Chateauroux. Photo: Xinhua

A technician jumps in the water to inspect reproductions of artworks decorating the banks of the River Seine. Photo: AP

Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

Aquatics

Hong Kong

Swimmer Haughey aiming to add medal to the gold won by fencer Vivian Kong, but faces battle royale in Paris pool


Swimmer Haughey aiming to add medal to the gold won by fencer Vivian Kong, but faces battle royale in Paris pool.


Siobhan Haughey

Ariarne Titmus