Paris Olympics: Siobhan Haughey ready for ‘huge challenge’ against mighty Australian duo
- Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan qualified first and second, and are heavy favourites for podium’s top two places
Siobhan Haughey is bracing herself for a “huge challenge” on Monday but feels she is “in a great place”, her coach said after she secured her place in the Olympic 200 metres freestyle final.
The Hongkonger finished third in her semi-final in a time of one minute, 55.51 seconds to qualify fourth fastest for a showdown with two of the greatest swimmers in history.
Ariarne Titmus, who beat Haughey to gold in Tokyo three years ago, won the pair’s semi-final in 1:54.64. Fellow Australian flier Mollie O’Callaghan swam 1:54.70 to come home second.
Titmus and O’Callaghan both smashed the previous world record in a race for the ages at the Australian Olympic trials in June. There is little chance of Titmus’ 1:52.23 mark being threatened in Paris. The pool at La Defense Arena is relatively shallow at 2.5m in depth, compared with the standard 3m.
However, Haughey’s coach, Tom Rushton, said times were irrelevant when it came to the business of Olympic titles.
After day one of Haughey’s Olympic mission, which began with the 26-year-old swimming 1:56.38 to place second in her heat, Rushton said it was “so far, so good” for his charge.