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Siobhan Haughey Withdraws from 50 Free Semis with Hip Injury

2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Update: Hong Kong media originally called the injury a back injury, but her coach has confirmed that it is her hip.

Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey will withdraw from the semifinals of the women’s 50 free on Saturday morning with a hip injury, according to her coach Rick Bishop

Bishop says that she felt a pull in the side of her hip during prelims of the 100 free.

“It bothered her a little in the semi and final, but it’s the Olympic Games, so she kept going.”

Bishop says that the hip was clearly bothering her, and after the 50 free it really hurt her. She swam the prelims of the women’s medley relay “for the team” and then scratched her from semi-finals of the 50 free.

That will conclude her meet. Bishop says he’s not concerned about the injury long-term, but that they’re going to be smart about it with rest and rehab.

Start lists have confirmed the news. Finland’s Fanny Teijonsalo, 25, moves up to take the spot for her first Olympic semi-final.

Haughey finished 15th in prelims in 24.75, while Teijonsalo finished 17th in prelims in 24.79.

Both swimmers are the national record holders in their respective countries, with Haughey having a best of 24.59 from May and Teijonsalo swam a 24.77 at the Mare Nostrum, also in May.

Haughey has already risen to sporting-icon status in Hong Kong with her performance in the 100 and 200 freestyles so far at this meet. She won a silver medal in both the 100 and 200 free. Besides earning her almost $650,000 in medal bonuses directly from the federation, that result will make her hero status in her home country, with further endorsements sure to follow.

Haughey’s 2 Olympic medals are among 3 that Hong Kong has won so far in Tokyo across all sports and represent a third of Hong Kong’s all-time, all sports medals at the Olympic Games. Much as we’ve seen with swimmers like Joseph Schooling in Singapore or Ous Mellouli in Tunisia, medalists from countries that don’t win many Olympic medalists have another level of fame and influence in their home countries, and Haughey has entered that new stratosphere.

The 23-year old Haughey attended college in the United States at the University of Michigan. She continued training there, along with countrymate Jamie Yeung, as a post-grad. She has been home in Hong Kong for most of the pandemic training at the national training center, though Rick Bishop, her primary coach at Michigan, has continued to direct her training from a distance before joining the team for their pre-Olympic training camps.

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Joel
3 years ago

She was being coached at a distance? She’s incredible.

Sub13
3 years ago

I thought she looked off in the 50. Hopefully she recovers quickly. Stellar effort!

Eric the eel > Phelps
3 years ago

she wins more prize money than the entire usa swimming team lol

Sub13
Reply to  Eric the eel > Phelps
3 years ago

I’m sure Dressel’s sponsorships will be worth more than the HK, USA and Aus total prize money combined

Justhereforfun
3 years ago

Am I the only one that is mind blown that she can do a 52.2 while her 50 PB is only 24.5? I know she’s more of a 200 swimmer but damn girl

Troyy
Reply to  Justhereforfun
3 years ago

I think she must’ve been in 24 low shape to go out in 25.10 for that 52.2.

cook786
3 years ago

Its likely tied to several factors. Pain is complicated.

Jamie5678
3 years ago

I had money on Haughey to win gold – always thought that McKeon would win but the odds on Haughey were really very good. So I like to think I played a big part in her success and whilst she has her two silver medals I have nothing to show for my financial and emotional support.

In view of this, I think it’s pretty clear what the honourable thing is for her to do with the $650,000.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Jamie5678
3 years ago

Ya I mean, if not for that hip injury pretty sure we’d both have made about $650,000 with our incredibly smart wagers.

Jamie5678
Reply to  Steve Nolan
3 years ago

Fair play Steve …

Siobhan if you’re reading this I’m happy to split the $650k with SteveN 50-50. Please ask SwimSwam for our email addresses. Hope your hip gets better.

Boobstroke
3 years ago

52.27 in an Olympic final on a hip injury – which she had for over a day and a half between 100 prelims and finals!! Truly amazing. She’s had a great meet although this isn’t the ideal way to end she has rly performed above and beyond

Oof
3 years ago

I’m guessing it’s not a slipped disk

Ragnar
Reply to  Oof
3 years ago

Could be sciatica, normal comes from weightlifting but the wrong start could’ve just as easily angered the nerve

Jay Ryan
Reply to  Oof
3 years ago

Hopefully not a torn labrum

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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