Tokyo Olympics: gold medal fever grips Hong Kong as Siobhan Haughey chases glory in the pool
- ‘It’s really exciting. Coming into the Olympics, I wanted to make the finals in at least one event. I am really happy,’ she says ahead of 200m freestyle final
- Cycling star Sarah Lee raises expectations even higher by saying, ‘I am ready to win medals’ before boarding a plane for Games
Haughey raised expectations sky high when she finished second fastest after the two semi-finals of the women’s 200m freestyle on Tuesday. She led right until the finish when Australia’s 400m gold medallist Ariarne Titmus grabbed her at the wall.
The 23-year-old will now start as one of the favourites in the final at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, starting at 9:41am Hong Kong time.
Cheung ignited an Olympic flame in Hong Kong when he ended a 25-year wait for the city’s second Olympic gold, after Lee Lai-shan’s historic triumph in windsurfing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The 24-year-old Cheung carved his place in history by beating Olympic champion Daniele Garozzo, of Italy, winning the first medal of any colour in fencing for Hong Kong and only the fourth for the city in Games history.
Haughey has long been the standard-bearer for swimming in the city, emerging as a world force in the past two years against the best in the International Swimming League.
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“It’s really exciting. Coming into the Olympics, I wanted to make the finals in at least one event so the fact I made it now, I am really happy,” said Haughey, who will also compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle. “Hopefully tomorrow, I can just swim a good time and hopefully a best time.”
Haughey was just outside a world record pace at the 100m turn in her semi-final and finished in 1:55.16 behind Titmus (1:54.82). USA superstar Katie Ledecky (1:55.34) was third fastest after winning the other semi.
05:17
Naomi Osaka knocked out of Olympic Games, as Hong Kong swimmer makes history in Tokyo
Hong Kong’s hopes of more success in Tokyo received another shot in the arm when star track cyclist Sarah Lee Wai-sze declared she was “ready to win medals” when leaving for Japan on Tuesday morning.
The 34-year-old Lee, winner of a bronze medal in the keirin at the 2012 London Olympics, said she was inspired by Cheung’s heroics, although she could not bring herself to watch him and become too “excited” before leaving for Tokyo.
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“As long as he was in the final, which means Hong Kong could at least win a medal, I stopped watching it to stay calm. In fact, I only watched the final this morning to enjoy the golden moment,” Lee said.
“The training this week has been the best over the years and I am ready to win medals. All of us have been working very hard and it doesn’t matter who can win a medal in the end. But, of course, I would prefer if I am one of them to stand on the medal podium.”
After the thrills of Cheung’s gold-medal triumph on Monday, it was back down to Earth for Hong Kong’s women’s épée team, who lost their quarter-final 44-32 to China.
In table tennis, Doo Hoi-kem reached the women’s singles quarter-finals but will face a tough match against top seed Chen Meng, of China, in the last eight.
China got their gold groove back after drawing a blank on Monday, with teen divers Chen Yuxi, who is just 15, and partner Zhang Jiaqi (17) dominating the women’s synchronised 10m platform.
It was a face-saving victory for China after favourites Cao Yuan and Chen Aisen were beaten by British pair Tom Daley and Matty Lee in the corresponding men’s event on Monday.
They also won two golds in shooting, taking their gold medal tally to nine, equal with the USA and one behind leaders Japan.
Taiwan also got in on the act with their first medal with Kuo Hsing-Chun winning the women’s 59kg weightlifting event, her first lift being higher than any other athlete managed in three attempts.
But the Olympics lost one of its superstars, Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, with another in doubt, USA gymnast Simone Biles.
Osaka, the poster girl who lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony, bowed out in straight sets to Marketa Vondrousova, of the Czech Republic.
“I’m disappointed in every loss, but I feel like this one sucks more than the others,” the four-time grand slam winner said.
Biles withdrew from the all-around team final after competing on the vault. She appeared to injure her foot.
“Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions,” USA Gymnastics said.
Meanwhile, Tokyo reported 2,848 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, exceeding the earlier record of 2,520 cases on January 7. The record is “not a problem” for the Olympics, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said, according to Reuters.
