Veteran Siobhan Haughey Adjusting Training to Meet Body’s Needs
Through the years, Siobhan Haughey has enjoyed significant success on the World Cup circuit, and 2026 proved no different as Haughey twice won the 200-meter freestyle as the series traveled along the Silk Road. But the veteran from Hong Kong is approaching her craft in a different manner than even a few years ago, as the former University of Michigan star listens more closely to what her body is telling her.
Approaching her 29th birthday, Haughey has adjusted her training to match what her body can handle after more than a decade of elite-level performances. Haughey is a four-time Olympic medalist between the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle and is pushing toward the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. As Haughey works to another Olympic appearance, her workouts have been adjusted.
“My body just can’t keep up with more training and more intensity and just more of everything,” she said in an interview with World Aquatics. “These days, we focus a lot more on the quality of the training as well as the quality of my recovery. It’s not just about training more and training harder, but it’s also about training smarter. Sometimes taking a step back is actually the better and smarter choice.”
Haughey won her first international medals at the 2014 Asian Games, so she has been at the peak level of the sport for more than a decade. Her quartet of Olympic medals have been complemented by 10 medals at the World Champs (Long Course/Short Course), and she recently won the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle at the Asian Games in Tokyo. In December, Haughey will race at the World Short Course Championships in Beijing.
At the Water Cube, which was the site of the 2008 Olympic Games, Haughey should contend for the podium in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. But she also maintains a different approach to competition than she once did.
“Luckily, we have a few more weeks after the World Cups, so hopefully by the time we get to Beijing, I’ll be ready,” Haughey said. “These days, because I’ve achieved a lot already and I’ve had a lot of years of racing, I don’t think I’m necessarily motivated by those specific goals anymore. More focused on the process than the result itself. If you are just swimming for that one medal, that’s a lot of miserable times.”
Haughey has enjoyed her career and the opportunity to travel the world. More, she recognizes the role of athletes in influencing up-and-coming swimmers.
“Every year, I try and check off new countries,” she said. “It’s been really fun to experience a different kind of culture and learn more about the local food, the local language, and what they do here. Swimming is such a universal sport. A lot of people know how to swim but may not have access to watching a big meet like this in person. Maybe the next future world record holder is in the stands watching in a few days’ time. They might watch the men’s 100m Free and be inspired by that, and they will have new goals.”
