Hong Kong’s top swimmer Siobhan Haughey celebrates Olympic medals at Paris 2024 Champions Park

10 months ago 73

2nd August 2024 – (Paris) Hong Kong swimming sensation Siobhan Bernadette Haughey was the centre of attention on Thursday as she visited the Champions Park at the foot of the Eiffel Tower to celebrate her successful campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Haughey, who claimed two bronze medals in the pool, was greeted by a rapturous reception from the 10,000-strong crowd that had gathered to catch a glimpse of the city’s sporting heroes. Waving Hong Kong flags and chanting her name, the fans created an electric atmosphere as Haughey made her way down the catwalk, pausing to take selfies and greet her adoring public.

“It’s the first time I’ve experienced something like this, it’s a huge celebration party and Hong Kong should have something like this too!” Haughey exclaimed, visibly overwhelmed by the scale of the occasion.

The Champions Park has become a focal point for the Paris Olympics, allowing supporters from around the world to gather and get up close with the medal-winning athletes. Despite the sweltering heat, fans queued for hours to catch a glimpse of their heroes, erupting in cheers as Haughey emerged.

“The runway was so long and there were so many people, I didn’t know what to do at first,” Haughey admitted. “But when I saw the Hong Kong flags and heard Cantonese, I felt a sense of familiarity and just went over to greet them. It was so hot, I don’t know how long they had been waiting, so I had to stop and take photos with everyone.”

Haughey, who was Hong Kong’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, said this Olympics had been the most special of her career, with the Champions Park experience a particular highlight.

“Even though this is my third Olympics, I wanted to approach it with a fresh mindset,” she explained. “I didn’t want it to feel like I was just staying in the athletes’ village and swimming in the pool. I wanted every aspect to have a ‘wow factor’, and that’s exactly what I’ve got here.”

With the individual events now complete, Haughey will turn her attention to the 4x100m medley relay, an event she is particularly excited about. “I can’t wait to compete with my teammates, and it’ll be breaststroke this time, not freestyle,” she said with a smile.