https://www.scmp.com/rss/330584/feed Given Hong Kong’s location it is hardly surprising swimming is a popular pastime in the city, and success on the world stage has followed in recent years. Double Olympic silver medallist and short course world-record holder Siobhan Haughey is the best of Hong Kong’s athletes in the pool. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Paul McNamara Paul McNamara After the loneliness and long hours of rehabilitation following knee surgery, three-time Olympian Camille Cheng Lily-mei savoured the “humbling” experience of returning to competition alongside a pair of 13-year-olds. Out of the pool since she competed in the 2024 Paris Games, Cheng endured a mentally challenging past 12 months as she recovered from the procedure to repair her right anterior cruciate ligament. “I’ve never had such a big injury and so much time out,” said Cheng, who made a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3351029/hong-kong-olympian-camille-cheng-enjoying-sport-again-after-injury-took-mental-toll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3351029/hong-kong-olympian-camille-cheng-enjoying-sport-again-after-injury-took-mental-toll?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:15 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey has broken the meet record in the women’s 200m freestyle at the Bergen Swim Festival in Norway. Haughey’s time of one minute, 54.31 seconds not only won gold but was also her fastest time in almost two years. The previous meet record of 1:54.77 was set by Haughey’s Swedish rival Sarah Sjostrom. Haughey’s swim also moved her to third-fastest in the world this season, and is just 0.39 seconds off her own Asian record of 1:53.92, which she set at the Tokyo Olympics in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3350637/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-clocks-best-200m-freestyle-time-almost-2-years-norway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3350637/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-clocks-best-200m-freestyle-time-almost-2-years-norway?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:54:42 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Olympic champion diver Quan Hongchan has revealed she is a victim of cyberbullying over her physique, stating it has made her feel “resistance and dissatisfaction” towards her body and she yearns to be her former cheerful self. In an interview published on Monday, the diving star discussed the pressure and confusion of entering adulthood. Quan, who turned 19 in March, noted that weight has been her primary struggle as an adult. “People keep saying my weight is very heavy,” she said. “I am... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3348424/olympic-champion-diving-star-quan-hongchan-says-she-victim-cyberbullying-over-her-body?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3348424/olympic-champion-diving-star-quan-hongchan-says-she-victim-cyberbullying-over-her-body?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:00:09 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Siobhan Haughey will focus on training smart and hard while using a packed international schedule to prepare for the Asian Games in September. The Hong Kong Olympian, who is coming off a strong showing at last week’s China Open, plans to adopt a “race as training” approach this season and hopes to keep building from competition itself. Haughey won two golds and one silver in Shenzhen and said she was satisfied with her progress since returning from injury about six months ago, crediting it to a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3348301/hong-kong-star-haughey-adopt-race-training-approach-asian-games-build?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3348301/hong-kong-star-haughey-adopt-race-training-approach-asian-games-build?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:14 +0000 dpa dpa Australian swimming star Cameron McEvoy has decried the lack of prize money to go with breaking a world record that stood for more than 16 years as “ludicrous”. On Friday, McEvoy clocked 20.88 seconds in the 50m freestyle at the China Open, breaking a world record set by Brazilian César Cielo wearing a now-banned polyurethane suit by 0.03 seconds. “It’s crazy to think that to get a world record without a suit, and without any performance-enhancing drugs, so as a clean athlete, the bonus is zero... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347898/swimmer-cam-mcevoy-says-zero-dollars-setting-world-record-china-open-ludicrous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347898/swimmer-cam-mcevoy-says-zero-dollars-setting-world-record-china-open-ludicrous?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Olympic gold medallist Wang Shun had to settle for silver in the 200 metres individual medley on his 2026 season debut, while the 13-year-old sensation Yu Zidi staged a stunning comeback for her third triumph of the China Open Swimming Championships on Sunday. The only athlete born in the 1990s who competed in his final, the 32-year-old Wang qualified fastest in his group from the morning heats. He began the final strongly but faded towards the end and was overtaken by the talented 21-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3347501/yu-zidi-completes-golden-hat-trick-china-open-swimming-championships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3347501/yu-zidi-completes-golden-hat-trick-china-open-swimming-championships?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:04:49 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey missed out on the women’s 100m breaststroke A final at the China Open on Saturday, after finishing ninth overall in the event. The Olympic medallist clocked 1:09.87 in the heats, which left her outside the top-eight spots for the main final. Haughey competed in the B final, finishing in 1:08.12, a solid showing for a swimmer who normally focuses on freestyle. Earlier in the China Open, Haughey won the 50m and 100m freestyle at the Longgang Universiade Centre... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347444/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-misses-out-main-final-china-open-yu-zidi-sets-new-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347444/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-misses-out-main-final-china-open-yu-zidi-sets-new-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 14:35:16 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey followed up her 100m win the previous night by winning the 50m freestyle at the China Open Swimming Championships, while Australia’s Cameron McEvoy won the men’s event by almost a body length to break the world record. Not long after winning the 50m, Haughey also won a silver in the 200m freestyle. As she did on Thursday, Haughey won at the Longgang Universiade Centre Natatorium in Shenzhen by the narrowest of margins, finishing in a time of 24.41 seconds, just ahead... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347377/hong-kongs-haughey-wins-gold-silver-china-open-australian-mcevoy-breaks-world-mark?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3347377/hong-kongs-haughey-wins-gold-silver-china-open-australian-mcevoy-breaks-world-mark?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:00:15 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Siobhan Haughey won women’s 100m freestyle gold by the narrowest of margins, Tang Qianting shattered her own Asian record twice in a matter of hours and there was more glory for teen sensation Yu Zidi on the opening day of the China Open Swimming Championships. Returning to the site of her National Games glory in Shenzhen, Haughey led from start to finish to beat Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan by a hundredth of a second on Thursday, touching the wall at Longgang Universiade Centre Natatorium in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3347155/tang-breaks-own-womens-50m-breaststroke-asian-record-haughey-chasing-100m-freestyle-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3347155/tang-breaks-own-womens-50m-breaststroke-asian-record-haughey-chasing-100m-freestyle-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:10:07 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Chinese swimming star Li Bingjie has rejected the notion she was ever a prodigy, and rather considered herself to be a “shark” who swam her way back to the top through years of hardship and who now had her sights set on the Los Angeles Olympics. Li rose to fame at age 15, breaking the Asian record when she won silver at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, and claiming four gold medals at the National Games that year. However, there was an eight-year gap before she achieved another... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345884/chinese-swimmer-li-bingjie-reveals-secret-her-return-la-olympic-track-cold-buns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345884/chinese-swimmer-li-bingjie-reveals-secret-her-return-la-olympic-track-cold-buns?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 02:00:22 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Tired of the stereotypical expectations imposed on her as a young girl, Yvette Kong Man-yi “cut my hair short and looked like a little boy”. “I was from that era where they forced me to take ballet classes,” said 2016 Olympic Games swimmer Kong. “I wasn’t into wearing skirts and dresses … I was very into soccer, and a huge fan of Michael Owen. “During the 2002 World Cup, I was wearing a jersey with his name on the back and blended into a bunch of boys playing on a small football court. If they... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3345800/hong-kong-olympic-swimmer-yvette-kong-happy-keep-defying-traditional-limitations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3345800/hong-kong-olympic-swimmer-yvette-kong-happy-keep-defying-traditional-limitations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Staying true to Gabrielle Chanel’s love of sport and her belief that physical freedom and self-expression are essential in a woman’s life, the CC League is a two-year mentorship programme that treats beauty as a source of power. It goes beyond the more customary Chanel aesthetic, and offers one-on-one guidance and group coaching focused on self-confidence, self-expression and femininity to help each athlete define her own rituals and presence, on and off the field. “To me, being feminine means... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3345346/style-edit-chanels-cc-league-empowers-women-athletes-and-field?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3345346/style-edit-chanels-cc-league-empowers-women-athletes-and-field?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:00:09 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Chinese swimming sensation Yu Zidi has been nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award, the youngest athlete to ever receive that honour. The 13-year-old is up for the Breakthrough of the Year Award alongside the likes of NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Formula 1 champion Lando Norris. There has been recognition too for Hong Kong charity Rugby for Good in the Laureus Sport for Good category. Yu made history at the World Aquatics Championships last year, becoming the youngest swimmer to ever... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345309/chinas-teen-swimming-sensation-yu-becomes-youngest-ever-receive-laureus-nomination?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3345309/chinas-teen-swimming-sensation-yu-becomes-youngest-ever-receive-laureus-nomination?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:00:16 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales Hong Kong actors Chow Yun-fat, 70, Kent Cheng, 74, Lau Kong, 79, and Paw Hee-ching, 76, made headlines in January for being among the oldest participants in the 10km event at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026. In 2025, the then 69-year-old Chow ran the half-marathon at the event, completing the 13.1-mile (21km) race in two hours, 24 minutes and 33 seconds. Recently, a growing number of people in their sixties, seventies, eighties and older have been in the news for taking part in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342586/how-people-70-year-old-chow-yun-fat-keep-pushing-their-endurance-limits-they-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342586/how-people-70-year-old-chow-yun-fat-keep-pushing-their-endurance-limits-they-age?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Laura Wang Xintong has shaved nearly three seconds off Siobhan Haughey’s 12-year-old Hong Kong 400 metres individual medley short course record, and Lo Tsz-lam has lowered the men’s city best in the same event. The records were set during the two-day 2025-26 Div. I Age Group Short Course Swimming Competition (Part 3), which concluded on Sunday at Victoria Park Swimming Pool. Wang finished first in the girls’ 15-17 400m medley in a time of 4:39.48, lowering her own youth record of 4:42.99 by 3.51... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3341248/young-hong-kong-swimmer-breaks-siobhan-haugheys-12-year-local-short-course-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3341248/young-hong-kong-swimmer-breaks-siobhan-haugheys-12-year-local-short-course-record?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:28:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Nine-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky clocked the second-fastest women’s 1500m freestyle time in history on Wednesday to launch the US Pro Swim Series event in Austin, Texas, with a dominant victory. Ledecky was untouchable as she cruised to victory in 15 minutes and 23.21 seconds, more than a minute in front of 16-year-old runner-up Brinkleigh Hansen, who touched in 16:31.31. Becca Mann was third in 16:35.09. Ledecky did not threaten her world record of 15:20.48, set in 2018, but she... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3339984/katie-ledecky-continues-ownership-1500m-freestyle-second-fastest-swim-ever?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3339984/katie-ledecky-continues-ownership-1500m-freestyle-second-fastest-swim-ever?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Alexander Mak Alexander Mak For nearly 50 years, the New Year Winter Swimming Lifesaving Championships have represented a tradition of courage in Hong Kong, challenging participants with a 600-metre course from Middle Bay Beach to Repulse Bay Jetty. The fastest swimmers are crowned champions in various age groups and categories, including student and open divisions. Join us as we delve into the South China Morning Post’s picture archives, featuring generations of brave swimmers plunging into icy waters on the first day of... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3338235/pictures-hong-kong-swimmers-braving-cold-new-years-day-1970s-2000s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3338235/pictures-hong-kong-swimmers-braving-cold-new-years-day-1970s-2000s?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 22:00:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim A statement by the secretary general of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) that athletics had to “come to the party” for the city state to attain better SEA Games results has elicited a heated response from the local athletics community and others in the sporting fraternity. The saga also sparked discussion on whether Singapore’s athletes were receiving sufficient monetary rewards for achievements and rigorous development pathways. SNOC chief Mark Chay made the comments on Saturday... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337601/do-singapores-athletes-need-more-funding-officials-come-party-review-spurs-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3337601/do-singapores-athletes-need-more-funding-officials-come-party-review-spurs-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 07:17:47 +0000 Reuters Reuters The International Swimming League (ISL) has announced plans to relaunch as soon as 2026 ‌after a three-year hiatus, betting that a reshaped commercial model, stable backing and momentum from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics could sustain a global, team-based competition in one of the Games’ marquee sports. ISL was first launched in 2019 with the goal of keeping swimming fans engaged beyond the Olympics by creating a season-long league with regular meets. It previously featured some of the sport’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337386/international-swimming-league-targets-2026-relaunch-after-covid-19-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3337386/international-swimming-league-targets-2026-relaunch-after-covid-19-war-disruptions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:56:13 +0000 dpa dpa Stripping off and diving into a swimming pool can seem daunting, but braving the water could be one of the best decisions you make for your mental and physical health. Being a strong swimmer is a key life skill that can come in handy when you least expect it, so it is important to fine-tune your skills and increase your confidence in the pool – especially later in life. “I’ve seen the difference swimming makes in people’s lives, especially for older adults,” says Emma Kuwertz-Norman, national... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3335132/5-benefits-learning-swim-your-retirement-and-tips-help-you-dive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3335132/5-benefits-learning-swim-your-retirement-and-tips-help-you-dive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:15:09 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter “Youth is overrated” is a mantra empowering open water swimmer Edie Hu to break records at 50 years of age. On November 20, the Hong Kong art dealer set off from the Disneyland Resort Pier to circumnavigate Lantau – Hong Kong’s largest island – in a tandem swim with friends Simon Holliday, 46, the founder of the Splash Foundation, and Brett Kruse. They were all attempting a world-first: no one had managed to circumnavigate the island before. A 12-strong support crew spread across a sailing boat,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3334850/first-woman-swim-around-hong-kongs-lantau-island-defies-her-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3334850/first-woman-swim-around-hong-kongs-lantau-island-defies-her-age?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang In the past several weeks, two of Hong Kong’s long-standing open water swimming records have fallen, and organisers of these testing events believe it could be just the beginning. With challenging currents, swirling seas and dramatic backdrops, the city has always been a draw for the adventurous, and one swimmer thinks it could soon become a destination attracting athletes from around the world. Last week, Waris Mills completed the 45km swim around Hong Kong Island in 10 hours, 35 minutes and 58... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3334944/hong-kong-has-everything-be-top-destination-worlds-open-water-swimmers-hu-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3334944/hong-kong-has-everything-be-top-destination-worlds-open-water-swimmers-hu-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:22 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse The recent flurry of sporting events has thrown up a number of aspects which I found particularly inspiring. With much of the media focus on China’s 15th National Games naturally on the sporting contests, less attention was paid to the fact that the event could only have been successfully organised with the support of local volunteers. The Agency for Volunteer Service appealed for help in marshalling competitors and spectators, and tens of thousands of ordinary Hongkongers applied. The target... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3334397/sporting-passion-hongkongers-inspiration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3334397/sporting-passion-hongkongers-inspiration?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 21:30:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan For the past decade, Siobhan Haughey has spent a lot of time in the spotlight as the city’s star of the pool, but she is not the only swimmer making waves at the National Games. Ian Ho Yentou grabbed his share of headlines on Sunday, storming to the men’s 50m freestyle gold in Shenzhen by winning the final that also included China’s Olympic star Pan Zhanle. Ho’s success marked the first time a Hong Kong men’s swimmer has won a gold medal at the multi-sports games in China. And what is just as... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333203/hong-kongs-ian-ho-reflects-becoming-first-male-swimmer-win-gold-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333203/hong-kongs-ian-ho-reflects-becoming-first-male-swimmer-win-gold-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:30:13 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball For once on Sunday, Siobhan Haughey was not the main focus of Hong Kong’s success in the swimming pool – Ian Ho Yentou grabbed that spotlight and shone it firmly on himself. The 28-year-old produced a scintillating performance to take National Games gold in the men’s 50 metres freestyle in Shenzhen, setting a city record and consigning China’s Olympic star Pan Zhanle to the role of also-ran. Ho’s time of 21.71 seconds bettered the 21.83 he produced at the World Aquatics Championships in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3333003/national-games-ian-ho-gold-first-hong-kongs-men-haughey-reaches-2-50m-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3333003/national-games-ian-ho-gold-first-hong-kongs-men-haughey-reaches-2-50m-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 14:46:43 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The National Games have long been billed as a proving ground for China’s new wave of athletes as the competition cycle gears up for the next Olympics, and for rising star swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo, this year’s event has become a definitive coronation. The 15th edition of the National Games has seen the 18-year-old from Shandong sweep three major gold medals so far, including the men’s 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle events, as he establishes dominance in the middle- and long-distance categories,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3332929/national-games-3-races-still-go-zhang-zhanshuo-can-already-be-crowned-swim-king?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3332929/national-games-3-races-still-go-zhang-zhanshuo-can-already-be-crowned-swim-king?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 13:00:10 +0000 Josh Ball Josh Ball Siobhan Haughey said she did not have high expectations of herself heading into the National Games, yet on Saturday she won her second gold medal inside two days. The Hongkonger dominated the women’s 100 metres freestyle final at Shenzhen Universiade Centre Swimming Pool in much the same way as she did the 200m almost 48 hours earlier. Already its most decorated Olympian, Haughey became the city’s first athlete to win two gold medals at a single China Games, and on her own has matched the most... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332931/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-wins-second-gold-national-games-takes-100m-freestyle-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332931/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-wins-second-gold-national-games-takes-100m-freestyle-title?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 11:08:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Siobhan Haughey may not yet be back to her best, but 24 hours after claiming her first National Games gold she breezed past her opponents in the semi-finals of the 100 metres freestyle and has her hands firmly on a second. The Hongkonger was comfortably quickest in Friday’s race, touching the wall in 53.46 seconds, the only one of the 16 semi-finalists to go below the 54 mark. Still somewhat short of her Asian record 52.02, it was more than good enough at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332750/haughey-fires-100m-freestyle-warning-shot-coach-rushton-really-excited-what-comes-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332750/haughey-fires-100m-freestyle-warning-shot-coach-rushton-really-excited-what-comes-next?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 04:32:59 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan There was a sense of relief about Hong Kong swimming superstar Siobhan Haughey after she won National Games gold on Thursday. The four-time Olympic medallist triumphed in her favourite 200 metres freestyle event, touching the wall in one minute, 54.85 seconds. Li Bingjie of Hebei was second in 1:55.67, while Liu Yaxin, representing Zhejiang, rounded out the podium in 1:56.01. Haughey’s time was her fastest in two days in Shenzhen, though it was still some way short of her Asian record of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332695/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-says-her-best-yet-come-after-winning-historic-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332695/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-says-her-best-yet-come-after-winning-historic-games-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:00:53 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey said she had room for improvement after reaching the 200 metres freestyle final at the National Games with the second fastest time overall in the semis on Wednesday. Making her debut at the multi-sport extravaganza, four-time Olympic medallist Haughey progressed safely through her heat in the morning in Shenzhen. She then sliced more than two seconds off her heat time in the evening, clocking one minute and 56.73 seconds to finish second in the second... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332543/national-games-siobhan-haughey-seeks-progress-200-metres-freestyle-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3332543/national-games-siobhan-haughey-seeks-progress-200-metres-freestyle-final?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:13:20 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Three days ahead of his 20th birthday, Pan Zhanle of China produced a swim at the Paris Olympics that catapulted him to Olympic gold and international attention. Pan smashed his own world record in the 100m freestyle, his time of 46.40 seconds at Paris La Defense Arena destroying his previous best of 46.8. What made Pan’s world record all the more impressive was that it came in one of what swimming experts throughout the Games said was a notoriously “slow pool”, evidenced by race times and the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332095/national-games-will-china-star-pan-zhanle-return-world-record-form-or-finish-year-flop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3332095/national-games-will-china-star-pan-zhanle-return-world-record-form-or-finish-year-flop?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:15 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan As co-hosts with Guangdong and Macau, Hong Kong’s athletes were exempt from needing to qualify for the National Games, resulting in the city sending its largest-ever delegation of more than 600 competitors. Amid heightened competition at the multi-sport event, and with the potential for records to tumble on an almost hourly basis, here are the Hong Kong marks that could fall in swimming and athletics over the next two weeks. Swimming Among the 31 men and women who make up the city’s swim team,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331923/national-games-hong-kong-records-could-be-broken-athletics-swimming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331923/national-games-hong-kong-records-could-be-broken-athletics-swimming?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 04:00:10 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara She battled and overcame daunting mental health challenges during her career in the pool, but the Hong Kong swimmer turned academic and entrepreneur Yvette Kong Man-yi has said that “I look back and am thankful I went through all that”. Now she is urging the athletes set to chase glory for the city in this month’s National Games to “soak it in and find a balance between enjoyment and performing”. Kong eventually succeeded in that herself, completing an uplifting comeback when, after experiencing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331482/mental-barriers-neednt-hold-hongkongers-back-national-games-ex-swimmer-yvette-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331482/mental-barriers-neednt-hold-hongkongers-back-national-games-ex-swimmer-yvette-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:10 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong swimmer Stephanie Au Hoi-shun said the feeling she had taking part in the city’s National Games torch relay on Sunday was “completely different” than being a flag bearer at the Olympics. The five-time Olympian ran the third leg of the relay alongside Victoria Harbour after collecting the torch from Chinese fencer Sun Yiwen just outside the Legislative Council Complex. She handed it off to Hong Kong Jockey Club chairman Martin Liao. “I used to think being a torch relay runner and a flag... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331223/swimmer-au-weighs-heavier-torch-against-lighter-responsibility-national-games-relay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3331223/swimmer-au-weighs-heavier-torch-against-lighter-responsibility-national-games-relay?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 11:00:08 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Hong Kong’s athletes wrapped up their Asian Youth Games on Thursday in Bahrain, with the city’s swimmers putting the exclamation mark on a historically great performance. Tsui Yik-ki and Man Wui-kiu bagged gold in the men’s and women’s 50m breaststroke, with the Hong Kong team also adding three silver and two bronze to the night’s haul. Man’s time of 32.02 seconds was a games record and brought her home ahead of teammate Claire Cheung Wing-yi, who touched the wall in 32.36, with Thailand’s... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330981/asian-youth-games-success-hints-coming-golden-generation-hong-kong-athletes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3330981/asian-youth-games-success-hints-coming-golden-generation-hong-kong-athletes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 01:21:20 +0000 Reuters Reuters Mollie O’Callaghan and Kaylee McKeown launched Australia’s post-Ariarne Titmus era in style by smashing short course world records at the World Cup meet in Westmont, Illinois. Olympic 200m freestyle champion O’Callaghan swam one minute, 49.77 seconds for victory in the same event, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:50.31 set by Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey in 2021. McKeown then held off fierce rival Regan Smith to win the 200 backstroke in 1:57.87 on the final night of the meet on Sunday, erasing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3329613/ocallaghan-shatters-haugheys-200m-freestyle-record-mckeown-sets-new-200m-backstroke-mark?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3329613/ocallaghan-shatters-haugheys-200m-freestyle-record-mckeown-sets-new-200m-backstroke-mark?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 03:32:34 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer A child prodigy, world record holders, Olympic medallists and world champions mean that swimming at the National Games is set to be one of the hottest tickets going. The sport is set to be dominated by mainland Chinese swimmers, with Hong Kong possessing only one contender who can boast the above status: four-time Olympic medallist Siobhan Haughey. The 27-year-old has previously stated that she does not know whether she will compete at international level next year, and success is far from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3329431/beyond-siobhan-haughey-hong-kongs-best-bets-chinas-top-threats-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3329431/beyond-siobhan-haughey-hong-kongs-best-bets-chinas-top-threats-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 01:00:19 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer If someone were to tell Siobhan Haughey the sky was the limit, she would try to find a way to swim through it. Throughout her career, the 27-year-old has advanced wave upon wave, and in November, will compete in her first National Games, looking to medal in the 100 metres and 200m freestyle events. Should Haughey triumph at the National Games, it would mean that she has medalled at the biggest events on offer, winning four Olympic medals, five world championship titles, two Asian Games golds and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3329412/siobhan-haugheys-rise-become-golden-girl-hong-kong-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3329412/siobhan-haugheys-rise-become-golden-girl-hong-kong-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 23:00:14 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Around 600 Hong Kong swimmers took part in the Cross Tolo Harbour Open Race on Sunday, despite amber rainstorm and thunderstorm warning signals being raised. The Hong Kong Observatory had raised the thunderstorm warning at 11.15pm on Saturday, and stated explicitly that people should not swim outdoors. The open-water race’s organisers, the Tai Po Sports Association, were adamant that the warning had not been issued, and chairman Henry Choi Kam-kong said that if that had been the case, the event... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3326308/do-not-swim-hong-kong-observatory-says-tolo-harbour-race-goes-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3326308/do-not-swim-hong-kong-observatory-says-tolo-harbour-race-goes-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 12:21:47 +0000 Reuters Reuters A French couple is training in the Mediterranean to prepare for what they hope will be a record-breaking three-month relay swim across the Atlantic. Matthieu Witvoet and Chloe Leger Witvoet plan to set off from the island of Cape Verde, off the African coast, on November 1, for a 2,360 mile (3,800 km) swim to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. The couple will take turns swimming for six hours each every day and attempt to set records for the longest female ocean crossing as well as for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3326252/french-couple-training-record-breaking-swim-across-atlantic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3326252/french-couple-training-record-breaking-swim-across-atlantic?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 13:00:11 +0000 Associated Press,SCMP Sport Associated Press,SCMP Sport Olympic swimmers who challenged the sport’s governing body in a US court are set to receive a multimillion-dollar settlement for athletes who took part in a breakaway series. “World Aquatics is setting up a fund of US$4.6 million that will be distributed to swimmers who signed contracts to compete at the International Swimming League [ISL] event in Turin in 2018 and in the 2019 ISL season,” the governing body said on Monday in a statement. Three Olympic and world-champion swimmers – Katinka... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3324872/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-could-be-line-share-us46-million-legal-settlement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3324872/hong-kongs-siobhan-haughey-could-be-line-share-us46-million-legal-settlement?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:47:21 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport A team of five swimmers from Hong Kong completed the English Channel two-way relay last weekend, becoming the first from the city to achieve the feat. Led by former national swimming team member Eliza Chang Lai-shan, passionate open-water swimmers Melody Cheung Man-ling, Miu Tanaka, Ringo Chan Chi-wah and Alvin Tam Ka-po combined to finish the approximately 110km (68.4-mile) feat in 25 hours and 32 minutes on Friday and Saturday. On a solo basis, the first Hongkonger to cross the Channel was Mak... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3324740/hong-kong-relay-team-5-become-first-swim-across-english-channel-and-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3324740/hong-kong-relay-team-5-become-first-swim-across-english-channel-and-back?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:35:07 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson What better time to start planning your next holiday than the end of summer? Yes, yes I know, we’re only just back from a slow-paced August. I managed to escape Hong Kong’s brutal heat with a weeklong trip to Yunnan province last month, but I’m already plotting the next getaway. That’s the thing about travel, isn’t it? It’s addictive. The change in place, in pace and in tastes. It’s hard to get enough. So, in the spirit of escapism (and a soft landing back into real life), we’re kicking off... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324483/week-postmag-swimming-holidays-and-cyborg-cockroaches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324483/week-postmag-swimming-holidays-and-cyborg-cockroaches?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 04:45:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer China’s best young swimmers have staked their claims for places at the National Games with impressive showings at the National Swimming Championships in Chengdu. On Friday, 18-year-old Zhang Zhanshuo broke the world junior record in the men’s 400 metres freestyle as he clocked in at three minutes and 42.99 seconds to win the event. Liu Peixin was well behind in 3:49.44, but still won silver, while Li Chengyu got bronze in 3:51.52, with the mainland selectors using this event to pick swimmers for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324591/china-teen-zhang-stakes-national-games-claim-junior-world-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3324591/china-teen-zhang-stakes-national-games-claim-junior-world-record?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Sep 2025 07:00:08 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Hong Kong resident Shauna Krkalo stopped swimming for two decades after suffering from burnout, but returned to the pool in her forties to prove she was faster than her kids – and has broken two world records. Krkalo, who swims for the city’s Ladies Recreation Club (LRC), won six medals in Singapore last month at the World Aquatics Masters Championships, which takes place annually for age groups all the way up to 100 to 104. She won the 50 metres freestyle and breaststroke events in world record... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3324474/hong-kong-swimmer-returns-pool-after-20-years-wins-6-golds-sets-2-world-records?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3324474/hong-kong-swimmer-returns-pool-after-20-years-wins-6-golds-sets-2-world-records?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:30:07 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Two Italian swimmers have been given a 12-month conditional warning and banned from re-entering Singapore after they were caught shoplifting three bottles of perfume from a duty-free shop at Changi airport last month. Singapore police on Thursday confirmed media reports that Chiara Tarantino, 22, and Benedetta Pilato, 20, had been arrested on August 14 for shoplifting, CNA reported. The pair had been in Singapore to compete in the World Aquatics Championships, in which Pilato won a bronze for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3324499/italian-swimmers-warned-banned-singapore-after-airport-shoplifting-bust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3324499/italian-swimmers-warned-banned-singapore-after-airport-shoplifting-bust?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:12:43 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Hong Kong Olympic chief Timothy Fok Tsun-ting has said the city should be capable of replicating Singapore’s recent overnight development of a world-class swimming centre. Fok also called for an upgrade of Hong Kong’s leading tennis hub at Victoria Park. In both cases, he underlined the need for sustainable and enduring facilities as Hong Kong tries to position itself as a magnet for international sport. In November, the city will jointly host the National Games alongside Guangdong and Macau,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3323826/hong-kong-olympic-chief-calls-world-class-swimming-and-tennis-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3323826/hong-kong-olympic-chief-calls-world-class-swimming-and-tennis-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:30:08 +0000 Teresa Bergen Teresa Bergen You don’t have to go all the way to Europe for an open-water swimming holiday. Here are a few closer to home: 1. Japan The Japan Open Water Swimming Adventure by Cross Country Swimming is based on Ojika Island. Guests take an overnight ferry from Fukuoka and stay in ryokans. The trip includes visits to cultural sites and cycling. Six days, A$4,000/HK$20,350 per person. crosscountryswimming.com 2. Indonesia A nine-day Indonesian trip with All Blue Swim Tours starts on Lombok and takes guests on... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323926/4-swim-holidays-around-asia-ojika-island-japan-lan-ha-bay-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323926/4-swim-holidays-around-asia-ojika-island-japan-lan-ha-bay-vietnam?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:00:14 +0000 Teresa Bergen Teresa Bergen Breathing to the left, I glimpse the rocky Croatian coastline, heavily forested with squat pine trees. To the right, the teal waters of the Adriatic Sea. Below me, squishy sea cucumbers and spiny urchins dot the seabed. While the water looks tropical, its temperature is only about 20 degrees Celsius, comfortable as long as I keep moving. It is the first week of June and I am on a group trip with SwimTrek, a British-based company that leads swimming holidays around the world. We’ve all made our... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323914/open-water-swimming-through-croatias-islands-beginners-and-aficionados-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3323914/open-water-swimming-through-croatias-islands-beginners-and-aficionados-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer Hong Kong’s Cheung Yat-lam is in with a chance of a gold medal at the World Games in Chengdu after winning his wushu semi-final bout on Monday. But fellow fighter Chan Tsz-ching was unable to do likewise in her event, while the city’s No 1 squash player Tomato Ho Tze-lok also let a golden chance slip away with a narrow semi-final loss. Hong Kong did not win a medal on Monday – the city’s first fruitless day since Thursday – but that will change on Tuesday, when all three Hongkongers compete for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3321450/world-games-china-win-2-more-gold-medals-through-freedivers-extend-lead-top-table?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3321450/world-games-china-win-2-more-gold-medals-through-freedivers-extend-lead-top-table?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 09:00:10 +0000