Siobhan Bernadette Haughey made history in Tokyo on Wednesday. She won Hong Kong's first ever Olympic swimming medal when she claimed silver in the 200m freestyle.
The 23-year-old is the grandniece of former Taoiseach Charlie Haughey. Her father is Darach Haughey, a nephew of Charlie Haughey, and her mother, Canjo, is from Hong Kong.
She led the race at the 150m turn but was overtaken by Australian Ariane Titmus, who won her second gold medal of the Games. Canadian Penny Oleksiak claimed the bronze medal.
Haughey's time of 1:53.92 - which was 0.42 behind Titmus - took more than a second off her previous best, and is a new Asian record.
Her silver medal means this is already Hong Kong's most successful Olympic Games.
🥈🇭🇰 Siobhan Haughey made history!!!
1st ever medal in history for HKG in #swimming pic.twitter.com/OyBZzxsM2u— FINA (@fina1908) July 28, 2021
"I am more on the sprinting side and many others from the US and Australia are in a longer distance 400m and they would be very fast in the last 100m," she told the South China Morning Post.
"From the beginning, my target was to swim within 1:53. I would like to thank my coaches in Hong Kong and the United States, and also my dad and mum, without them I would not be having such an achievement.
"My achievement, coupled with Cheung Ka-long in fencing, can inspire other Hong Kong athletes who are here in Tokyo, and add oil to them and also those swimmers back home - continue to train hard and you will be the next.
"Five years ago, I reached the semi-finals in Rio and at the 2017 World Championships I came fifth and then fourth at the 2019 World Championships. Every time it was so close, and this time I am so happy."
She will also compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle.
Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, grand niece of former Taoiseach Charlie Haughey won a silver medal for Hong Kong in the 200m freestyle. #olympics #tokyo2020 #RTESport
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/lLKXNhKPkF
📱 Updates: https://t.co/4J3vff3Qa7 pic.twitter.com/GwBrwoQj6f— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 28, 2021
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