SIOBHÁN HAUGHEY

After Siobhán attended London 2012, the 14-year-old said to herself that she would go to the next Olympics as a competitor, not a spectator.

She finished sixth in her 200m freestyle semifinal at Rio 2016 before rewriting the history books five years later with silver in the 100m and 200m freestyle at Tokyo 2020.

By the close of 2021, Siobhán had become the first Olympic swimming medallist, the first world champion and the first world record-holder from Hong Kong.

She also played a key role as Energy Standard won the International Swimming League Grand Final, and she remains unbeaten over 200m freestyle with 17 victories across three seasons.

Her 200m freestyle world record of 1:50.31 at the global short-course championships just before Christmas providing the perfect ending to the year.

“I think it’s one of the best years I’ve had so far,” she said. “Hopefully, it’s not the best year yet because I’d still want more good things to happen in the future.”

Siobhán was born in Hong Kong to a Caucasian Irish father and Chinese mother. She attended St Paul’s Primary and Secondary Catholic Schools. Tough academic standards went hand in hand with the high bar she set herself in the pool.

A team player, too. In Tokyo, she qualified for the semis of the 50m freestyle but withdrew.

She still had the medley relay that same session. “I train with them every day so they’re not only my teammates but good friends”, Siobhán said.