World Aquatics Championships: Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey wins bronze in her ‘fun’ event, 100m breaststroke
- China’s Tang Qianting takes title in Doha with Haughey third in absence of several big names
- Haughey achieves the feat only 30 minutes after qualifying for the final of 200m freestyle
Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong has won her first medal at this year’s World Aquatics Championships in Qatar, taking a surprise bronze in her “fun” race, the 100 metres breaststroke.
The 26-year-old’s main focus is the freestyle events, with a strong chance of a podium place on offer in the 200m final in the early hours of Thursday, Hong Kong time.
But she opened her account for the week in Doha by joining mainland Chinese teenager Tang Qianting in getting among the medals.
Tang, 19, took advantage of the absence of world record-holder Lilly King, of the United States, along with a number of other big names, to take the title in one minute, 5.27 seconds. Dutchwoman Tes Schouten was second in 1:05.82 and Haughey came third in 1:05.92.
“I was not expecting this,” Haughey said afterwards. “I was just swimming the 100 breast for fun. I surprised myself.”
That bit of fun in Doha came only half an hour after Haughey emerged from her previous swim at the Aspire Dome, in the first of the 200m freestyle semi-finals.
She finished second in 1:56.04 behind Erika Fairweather of New Zealand, who clocked 1:55.75, sending the pair into the final as the fastest two qualifiers.
Already the world record-holder and twice a world champion over that distance in short-course 25m pools, Haughey is aiming to add a crown in the long-course 50m format, which is also used in the Olympics.
In the session’s other races, South Korea celebrated a second gold medal as Hwang Sun-woo claimed the men’s 200m freestyle title.
Two days after teammate Kim Woo-min took a surprise gold in the men’s 400m freestyle, Hwang stormed to victory in 1:44.75 seconds, improving on the bronze he won at last year’s edition.
“Clearly, we have great relationships within the team,” the 20-year-old said. “We’re all very close and train together. I think that brings synergy.”
Having charged out early, Hwang had to find another gear in a thrilling final lap to see off Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys, 0.3 seconds behind in second, and Luke Hobson, of the US, who was third.
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The non-Olympic 50m breaststroke saw world record-holder Adam Peaty of Britain ease into the final, with Australia’s Sam Williamson topping the list of qualifiers.
The rising Irish star Daniel Wiffen, a man in form having broken the short course world record in December, qualified second for the 800m freestyle final.
Japan’s Tomoru Honda, the silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, was looking to add his first world title in the 200m butterfly early on Thursday.
Additional reporting by Reuters, Associated Press
