World champion swimmer Siobhan Haughey reflects on life outside the pool
The Hong Kong athlete discusses what she loves most about her home city and the importance of planning for the future
Siobhan Haughey, one of Hong Kong’s most successful athletes with four Olympic swimming medals, has her sights set on more success in the pool at this September’s Asian Games in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture in Japan.
The 28 year-old, who won silver medals in both the women’s 100m and 200m freestyle at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games and two bronze medals in the same events at the 2024 Paris Games, has continued her winning ways in recent months.
Earlier this year, Haughey won several medals at the Dubai Swimming Championships and the China Open Swimming Championships in Shenzhen. She recently took part in a series of competitions in Europe and is now preparing for the Hong Kong Open Swimming Championships in August.
While undertaking her packed travel schedule to compete, Haughey says she often reflects on her life outside the pool, including her bond with her home city and the places she loves here.
“Growing up in Hong Kong, I’m used to being surrounded by many buildings, crowds and the hustle and bustle of the city,” says the former student at St Paul’s Secondary School in Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island.
“I especially love Central because there are great restaurants and places where I can hang out with friends, and of course, that beautiful view of Victoria Harbour. The area has a special place in my heart,” she says while visiting the AIA Alta Prestige Wealth Centre in AIA Central, a commercial building wholly owned by the life insurance company AIA Group.
The centre, which opened in March, caters to AIA’s high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth customers. Sustainability is at the forefront of the centre’s design concept. Reclaimed materials such as repurposed glass, metal and wood have been used throughout the space to echo the philosophy of the AIA Alta Club, a loyalty programme which provides members with wealth management, bespoke wellness services and exclusive lifestyle experiences.
They can access personalised professional and referral-based advisory services on trust, legacy, tax, legal and family office matters supported by the insurer’s dedicated teams, as well as a network of international organisations, in a holistic and private setting.
The experience is enhanced by bespoke hospitality offerings featuring a curated selection of food and drinks prepared by the company’s corporate dining team. Visitors can also learn about AIA Group’s century-long legacy in Asia at the “history wall” and enjoy a panoramic view of Hong Kong’s skyline.
Planning for life after her retirement from her swimming career is something that Haughey takes seriously. Since she graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019 with a psychology degree, she has been continually working towards her other dream.
“Child psychology is another passion of mine and I hope to work in that field one day,” she says. “Since graduation, I’ve still been reading a lot of books about the subject. I’m always taking a step-by-step approach to prepare for life after retirement.
“But when it comes to financial planning, although I have some basic knowledge of the subject, I’ll always defer to professionals for help if I encounter any issues. It’s just like being an athlete, where I rely on the expertise of my coach, nutritionist and physiotherapist to reach the optimal results with my training.”
As a resident of Hong Kong, which has one of the world’s highest life expectancy rates, Haughey believes in the importance of having a long-term plan so she will be well-prepared in later life.
“In addition to ensuring my physical health conditions are good enough for me to remain active when I’m in my 70s, 80s or 90s, I also want to plan well ahead for how to distribute my finances and assets for my own peace of mind when I’m older,” she says.
When thinking about the next generation, Haughey is particularly interested in how the use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) is having an impact on children’s growth and their future. She believes that while AI could be a helpful tool to enhance efficiency in youngsters’ everyday lives, its overuse may have a negative effect on their problem-solving abilities and also how they interact socially with others.
This long-term holistic view of development is shared by the AIA Alta Club, which offers the AIA Alta Discovery Academy programme designed to inspire and guide the next generation of AIA Alta Club members. Through a range of workshops, events and services, it aims to empower young people with the mindset and skills, such as critical thinking, ethical leadership and global awareness, to succeed in a rapidly changing world and become confident, well-rounded leaders.
“I really hope young children can all be involved in sports because it can offer life lessons such as how to manage their interpersonal relationships, handle pressure and overcome failures – things that you can’t learn from textbooks,” Haughey says.
“It’s a great way to broaden your horizons.”
Part of this video was filmed inside the AIA Alta Club Exclusive Crystal Gondola – a private glass-bottomed cabin on the Hong Kong Observation Wheel. Until December 31, AIA Alta Club members can sign up for the “AIA Alta Club Exclusive Crystal Gondola Journey” on the AIA+ mobile app. Each member can register for the offer once, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
AIA Hong Kong on AIA Alta Club’s features:
AIA Alta is AIA Hong Kong’s exclusive proposition for high-net-worth1 and ultra-high-net-worth2 customers, helping them achieve an optimal balance of health and wealth by seamlessly integrating wealth management, holistic wellness and health services, and premium privileges.
1High-net-worth customer means a customer with investible wealth of US$1 million to US$30 million.
2Ultra-high-net-worth customer means a customer with investible wealth of more than US$30 million.
“AIA Hong Kong”, “AIA” or the “company” refers to AIA International Limited (incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability).