Siobhan Haughey wins second gold medal in Rome as Hong Kong swimming star rediscovers her top form – just in time for World Championships

Haughey takes record victory at the Sette Colli Trophy in Italian capital – her second gold in as many days

The 26-year-old is firing on all cylinders as she bids for glory at Worlds in Fukuoka, and Hangzhou Asian Games

Reading Time:2 minutes

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 18: Siobhan Bernadette Haughey of Hong Kong celebrates winning gold in the Women’s 200m Freestyle Final on day six of the 2022 FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on December 18, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Published: 2:28pm, 25 Jun 2023

Siobhan Haughey has continued to rediscover her top form at just the right time, sealing a record victory in the 100 metres freestyle in Rome on Saturday night.

The Hongkonger picked up her second gold medal at the Sette Colli Trophy in the Italian capital, having swam her fourth fastest time this season on the way to her 200m freestyle title a day earlier.

Haughey, who was tied for third in the prelims with a time of 54.17 seconds, surged to the front in the opening 50m of the final before touching the wall first in 52.64s.

The 25-year-old smashed the previous meet record of 52.72s, set by former Olympic 50m freestyle champion Pernille Blume of Denmark, who is now retired, in 2018.

As for double Olympic silver medallist Haughey, her performance fell just short of her season-best time of 52.50s, which she clocked during the Barcelona stop of the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour five weeks ago to rank second globally.

Siobhan Haughey has so far won two gold medals at this year’s Settle Colli Trophy in Italy. Photo: Handout

The fastest time of the season belongs to Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan. The 19-year-old stopped the clock at 52.48s at the Australian World Trials in Melbourne on June 17.