In First Ever 800 Free, Siobhan Haughey Sets Hong Kong Record

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

In First Ever 800 Free, Siobhan Haughey Sets Hong Kong Record

Siobhan Haughey confirmed she’s in good form Saturday, setting a Hong Kong record in the women’s 800 freestyle in her first official race over that distance.

Haughey went 8:39.93 at the Long Course Swimming Invitational Trial at the Hong Kong Sports Institute on Saturday. That dislodges the national record of 8:41.66, set way back in the 2008 Beijing Olympics by Stephanie Au. It adds a ninth individual event in which Haughey holds the Hong Kong record in long-course meters.

It is, per World Aquatics listing of times, the first instance in which Haughey has swum the event. The database goes back to 2013. The time is not a risk to add to Haughey’s already busy Olympic program – the A cut in the event is 8:26.71, with the B cut 8:29.94.

Haughey isn’t in need of additional events. The reigning Olympic silver medalist in the 100 free and 200 free has five Olympic A cuts, with both of the aforementioned events, plus the 50 free, 400 free and 100 breaststroke, if she so chooses. She has helped Hong Kong qualify both a women’s 400 medley and 400 free relay.

Haughey’s endurance over the longer distance is perhaps a vote of confidence that she can handle a heavy program in Paris. The 26-year-old is the reigning world champion in the 200 free from the Doha World Championships this year. She won silver in the 100 free and bronze in the 100 breast there. The also owns the silver medal from the 2023 World Championships in the 100 free.

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Kanga1

3 months ago

She’s certainly in good form!
However the time isn’t Olympic final material, let alone a medal in this distance(800m).
I look forward to seeing her up against the Aussie girls in her favoured 100m & 200m events!

Colin Francis Best

3 months ago

Awesome times .