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Double Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Siobhan Haughey shattered the women’s 200m freestyle world record (1:50.31) at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates yesterday, winning Hong Kong’s first-ever gold medal at the World Swimming Championships. Dr Lam Tai-fai SBS JP, Chairman of the HKSI, praised with excitement for Haughey’s breakthrough performance to scale new heights which not only exerts great significance to the Hong Kong swimming sector, but also makes the whole Hong Kong community proud.

After the Tokyo Olympics Games, Haughey actively participated in various international swimming competitions. On the first day of the World Swimming Championships, Haughey set the world record of 1:50.31 in the women’s 200m freestyle event, shaving 0.12 seconds off the record held by Sarah Fredrika Sjostrom from Sweden. After breaking the world record, Haughey becomes the Asian and Hong Kong record holder as well.

Dr Lam praised Haughey for her resilience and perseverance which made Hong Kong people so proud of her, her brilliant performance also enhanced Hong Kong’s international status in sports. Dr Lam said, “Haughey’s performance in the international swimming arena is notable, I am so happy that she won this historic gold medal at the World Championships with a world record, her victory has been very encouraging to Hong Kong people. Yesterday was only the first day of the competition, it is believed that the Hong Kong team will bring us more good news.”

In addition to Haughey’s gold medal, 19-year-old Hong Kong swimmer Cheuk Ming-ho set new Hong Kong record of 3:47.51 in the men’s 400m freestyle event. Cheuk Ming-ho with his teammates Ho Yentou, Ng Cheuk-yin and Ng Yan-kin finished the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay event in 3:15.44 which is another new Hong Kong record.