Siobhán Haughey on life after the Olympics and making Hong Kong proud

The cheers from fans—particularly when hearing them chant her name in Chinese—keep her motivated. “It makes me feel so loved—and that’s why I don’t want to let people down, especially when they come all the way to watch me race. But I know that my true supporters will support me through the highs and lows.” The Hong Kong community’s support has been pivotal for Haughey; encounters with fans both locally and abroad are moments she never takes for granted. “It’s heartwarming to hear that I have such influence over people. I’m not swimming because of the recognition, but it’s nice knowing that my hard work has not gone unnoticed, and I truly appreciate all the support.”

This year’s Olympic journey was filled with memorable moments: travelling with teammates and enjoying simple pleasures, like gelato on a getaway in Rome or cooking together on days off. 

“A sport like swimming is so boring. You’re counting tiles for two hours straight. You can’t talk to anyone because your head is down and when you reach the wall, you get ten seconds to rest before you push off again. It’s a lonely sport,” she says. “These experiences made my teammates feel like family. I felt like I could enjoy life while being in a high-stress situation.”

One thing is for sure—Haughey’s success has influenced the perception of swimming in Hong Kong, with more and more young people enrolling in learn-to-swim programmes. Haughey, a graduate of psychology from the University of Michigan, is on a quest to use her power and influence for good, and is focused on helping the next generation of young people. “The government has been investing more in the sports industry; parents are more willing to let their kids pursue athletic careers, and companies are partnering with more athletes,” she notes, highlighting a positive shift towards sporting careers, including a shift in the way the community perceives mental health. 

“When I was growing up, we didn’t have many resources. If you said you were going to a psychologist, people immediately acted like something was wrong with you. But it’s not like that. You don’t go to the gym because you’re sick. You go to the gym to stay strong and prevent injuries. Talking about mental health helps us go from good to great. I wouldn’t have the success I have today if I didn’t have people helping me,”.

Haughey attributes her boost of confidence before races, photoshoots and events to the practice of positive self-talk and the use of power poses. “I take deep breaths and tell myself: I can do this. If you look at my photos during competitions, you’ll often see me standing behind the swimming blocks with my hands on my hips— that’s my signature power pose. It helps me feel strong and invincible.”

The future of swimming in Hong Kong looks bright and Haughey remains hopeful about its continued success on the world stage. As for her own future, Haughey is exploring interests beyond her work. “Swimming takes up so much of my time that I don’t really know what my hobbies are,” she admits. Professionally, she’s considering her next steps, leaving the door open for future decisions. “I’m still trying to figure out what exactly I want to do. I still really enjoy swimming and everything that comes with it, but I’m not sure how much longer my body can handle all the rigorous training.

“I know for sure that I don’t want to be a coach. I don’t feel equipped to do that—I know how to swim,
but I don’t know how to teach it [laughs]. When I’m done with swimming, I want to do something with psychology and kids—maybe become a clinical child psychologist. I’d like to go back to school and get another degree,” she says.

Whatever her decision is, Haughey will have a legion of fans following her journey, which will no doubt continue to inspire fans and fellow athletes alike.

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