Tokyo, Japan, July 28, 2021: Hong Kong China collected its fifth medal in Olympic Games history when Siobhan Haughey produced a mighty swim in the women’s 200m freestyle to take silver at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Wednesday, July 28.
Haughey, 23, was leading with around seven metres remaining but was beaten for gold on the touch by Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, who added the 200m title to the 400m freestyle gold on Monday.
It was Hong Kong China’s second medal of Tokyo, following the fencing gold of Cheung Ka Long on Monday, and the fifth in history – two gold medals, two silver and one bronze. It was also the first Olympic medal in swimming for the Special Administrative Region of China.
Hong Kong China had never won multiple medals at a single Olympic Games before.
Haughey said she had worked hard for this moment for the last five years, since reaching the semi-finals at Rio 2016.
“I knew I wanted to make the final at this meet. I feel like I was always so close to making the podium. To now finally being able to medal means so much," she added.
Titmus needed an Olympic record time of 1:53.50 to take gold. Haughey’s 1:53.92 was a new Asian record, while Penny Oleksiak of Canada won the bronze in 1:54.70.
Hong Kong’s flagship carrier and official airline partner of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Cathay Pacific, joined in the celebrations back home.
“First in Hong Kong's history! Congratulations to Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey for capturing Hong Kong's first silver in swimming,” said Cathay Pacific.
“Multiple Hong Kong record holder Siobhan Haughey made history this morning at the women’s 200m freestyle final, becoming the first Hong Kong swimmer to medal at the Olympics with a silver.
“We wish Siobhan the best in her upcoming 50m and 100m freestyle events! As the Exclusive Official Airline Partner of SF&OC, we continue to give our support to all Hong Kong athletes and hope they fly high on this international stage.”
In other news from the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Wednesday:
*Japan’s powerful swim team added two more medals, as Yui Ohashi followed up her victory in the women’s 400m Individual Medley on Sunday by taking gold in the 200m IM.
Ohashi, 25, clocked 2:08.52 to beat Alex Walsh of the United States by 0.13 seconds. Walsh took silver in 2:08.65 and her compatriot Kate Douglass won the bronze in 2:09.04.
In the men’s 200m butterfly, Japan’s Tomoru Honda finished second from Lane 8 behind the clear pre-race favourite, Kristof Milak of Hungary, who clocked an Olympic record 1:51.25 – 2.48 seconds ahead of the Japanese (1:53.73).