By Andy Ross.
Michigan rising senior Siobhan Haughey swam a 53.86 to win the 100 free on Friday night at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Columbus, just 0.03 off her best time from the World University Games last summer.
Haughey, a 2016 Olympian from Hong Kong, revealed she is still dealing with her nagging foot injury, something she has struggled with since January. She took “roughly six weeks on and off” after NCAAs per her coach’s request. One would think this would give Haughey a lot of confidence moving forward to the rest of the summer, which it has.
But Haughey won’t be swimming at a major meet this summer. She wants to “focus on her recovery and treat her foot.”
What will she be doing instead?
“Just take some time off, go home, and maybe travel a bit,” she said.
Travel a bit? Haughey was initially reserved before her coach Rick Bishop had to egg her on to explain what she meant by that.
“My sister lives in Ireland and we are going to visit her.”
It’ll be a much needed vacation for Haughey and the time out of the pool will help her foot recover. Haughey wants to be at her absolute best for her senior year at Michigan. The team is coming off a fourth-place finish at NCAAs, something that hasn’t happened since 1996, and three straight Big Ten team titles.
“I’m always thinking about the long term. I really want to do well my senior year, and also my World Champs next year,” she said.
Haughey has been dealing with her foot injury for about six months now. She has been able to swim through it in competitions, but practices have not been as smooth.
She indicated she can still train but she has had to make modifications, like doing more kick and focusing more on technique.
But the good news for Haughey is “it’s slowly getting better now” in her own words.
And with no meet at the end of the summer to focus on, Haughey can let her body and mind relax, and be ready to tackle on her senior year at Michigan.
Haughey most likely would have made an appearance at the Asian Games at the end of August in Indonesia. She is coming off a successful 2017 summer where she won the 100 and 200 free at the World University Games in Taiwan, setting best times in both.
Haughey also had a successful NCAA season, despite the foot injury. She was second in the 200 free and fourth in the 100 free at NCAAs in March, as well as a member of the second place 4×200 free relay team.
