Siobhan Haughey practices in a lake during the pandemic, says former teammate

Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey's splendid performance in the Tokyo Games does not come easily, as a former teammate said she had to practice in a lake during her time in the US as swimming pools closed during the pandemic.

The top swimmer will strive for another Olympic medal as she cruises into the final of 100m freestyle to take place at 9.59am tomorrow. 

“The water temperature of the lake was about 10 degrees, but she kept training,” former Hong Kong swimmer Claudia Lau Yin-yan said on a radio program.

As the conditions between swimming pools and lakes are different, Haughey decided to return to Hong Kong and followed her coach Rick Bishop’s training program in Hong Kong. 

Lau, who also studied at the University of Michigan with Haughey, complimented the 23-year-old as “a disciplined swimmer.”

“She insists on going to bed at around 11pm every night so she can have more time to rest,” Lau said, adding the swimmer has to train at around 5.30am and go to class at around 8am.

“We will rush to school when our hair is wet, and we will arrive at the classrooms with our hair frozen,” she said, adding Michigan is a very cold place.

Meanwhile, the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China said it is a group decision for Hong Kong team to give up the relay race.

This came after the Hong Kong swimming team’s decision on Wednesday, announcing the team will not compete in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay last night.

Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, honorary secretary general of the committee, said it might be difficult for Hong Kong to reach the final as the team entered the heats of 4x200m freestyle relay ranking 13th.

“If we decide to swim in the relay, the athletes will be back to the village at around 11pm and we are worried about [Haughey] not having time to recover for the semi-finals this morning.”

Wong said the decision was made after consulting the other three swimmers — Stephanie Au Hoi-shun, Camille Cheng Lily-mei and Tinky Ho Nam-wai. 

He added the Hong Kong team will not be qualified if Haughey is not in the line up, as the Olympic required at least two athletes with an 'A' Olympic cut time.

 “Only Siobhan and Stephanie are qualified with an 'A' Olympic cut time, and the remaining two have “B” Time,” he explained.

Chen Jianhong, head coach of the Hong Kong swimming team, also defended swimmers' decision of pulling out of relay to give Haughey time to rest.

“The lineups of important races including Asian Games, World Championships and Olympics are all decided by me,” Chan wrote on his Facebook, asking anyone who is unhappy about the decision to go to him, not the swimmers.

He also apologized to the swimmers for bearing the blunt over the decision.