Siobhán Haughey on life beyond the pool, Tai Hang memories and Chanel’s new Coco Mademoiselle fragrance

That foundation carried her all the way to the Olympic stage. Making her debut for Hong Kong at Rio 2016, she went on to claim two silver medals at Tokyo 2020—becoming the first athlete to win more than one medal for Hong Kong at a single Olympic Games.

Success also brought public expectation—a weight that followed her into every race and, in time, cast doubt on her own motivations. “I began questioning whether I was swimming because I was truly passionate about it, or because it was expected of me.” But she has learned to navigate it by listening to her own voice. “I always had to remind myself—no, you genuinely love this. You want to go to the pool every day. This is your thing.”

Beyond the pool, Haughey’s world is filled with books, journalling and baking—quiet pleasures that anchor her between competitions. Sitting down with Tatler after the panel, she lit up recounting the plot twists of her favourite murder mystery, The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose. Her genres of choice: murder mystery and romance. “I love reading because I can just completely shut off my mind,” she says.

Baking holds an equally special place, for reasons both simple and warm. “I love to eat, but also because afterwards I get to share what I’ve made with other people—I love that part of it.”

For someone who holds friendship so dear, the visit to Tai Hang stirred something bittersweet. Haughey grew up in Happy Valley, just minutes away, and these streets carry the texture of an earlier life. “It brings back a lot of childhood memories with friends,” she says. “We used to come here for different cafés, brunch, and dessert.” Many of those friends have since moved abroad, and returning to the neighbourhood brought that absence into quiet focus. “I actually texted one of my friends this morning saying, ‘Hey, I’m coming to Tai Hang—remember that coffee shop we used to go to?’ It’s not there anymore, but [the memory] was still good.” 

What she loves is that the neighbourhood has held onto itself. “Even though it’s changed a little, it still has its quirkiness and that cosy, intimate vibe. It’s different, but still has that character of being a little old, a little traditional. That’s what makes Tai Hang so special.”

This August, the Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu launch brought her back to Tai Hang, where old memories met new ones—offering, by her own account, a richer introduction to the fragrance than any shop counter could.

The programme was a local reimagining of the spirit Coco Mademoiselle has always carried: a young Coco Chanel in Paris, alive to chance encounters and the thrill of the unexpected. “Through all of those curated spaces [in Tai Hang], you get to immerse yourself in the spirit of Coco Mademoiselle—[imagining] her early 20s in Paris. You can almost picture her walking through the streets, passing a flower shop, picking up some flowers, and stepping into a café.” Haughey says.

She has worn the fragrance every day since receiving it. “I just love it,” she says. “I like scents that aren’t too sweet—there is a balance between masculine and feminine.”

Created by Olivier Polge, Chanel’s in-house perfumer-creator, Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu is an intense amber eau de parfum built around grapefruit, lychee, rose, jasmine, patchouli, vanilla and vetiver. For Haughey, it reads as distinctly daytime. “I think it matches an outfit that gives you confidence without trying too hard—like a shirt with trousers and trainers. It gives you confidence while still feeling like yourself.”

The freedom and creative spirit of the launch resonated with her belief in cherishing spontaneity—which does not come easily for an athlete whose days are built around discipline and structure. “The stress of not knowing used to make me feel less recharged,” she admits. “I used to plan every single thing I was doing on [a rest day]. I needed to maximise it.” It was only when she realised that control and restoration can work against each other that she began to follow her heart. “Now I’m giving myself a little more freedom and space to just wake up and see what I feel like doing.” Every day since has become a gift waiting to be unwrapped.