Every Move Counts: the tale of Olympian Siobhán Haughey

Ask any Hongkonger who they’re most excited to see compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics this year and one name will reign supreme: Siobhán Haughey. The swimmer, who brought home Hong Kong’s first ever medal in the sport after claiming silver in the 200m freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and has since gone on to win gold in the event at the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships, finds ways to champion her home city no matter where she goes. 

It’s something we at Cathay understand deeply. As Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, we uphold the city’s shared spirit of growth in everything we do, dedicating ourselves to making continuous advancements in every single detail, despite whatever challenges that may come our way. Wherever we fly, we take every little moment of each journey into consideration. That’s why we’re proud to announce Haughey as our new Cathay brand ambassador.

“I was born and raised in Hong Kong, so I have this strong sense of belonging to the city,” she says. “Whenever I return home on a Cathay Pacific flight after training or competing abroad, hearing the familiar cabin announcements brings a sense of warmth and security.

“I believe Cathay holds a special place in the hearts of many Hong Kong people.”

Moving beyond limits

Although Haughey ironically disliked swimming as a child, she fell in love with the sport when she turned 18. Now, as a world-class athlete, in a single week she trains in the pool 10 times, hits the gym twice and attends spin and yoga sessions – all year round. 

While our team's day-to-day may look a little different to Haughey’s, we bring this same spirit, dedication and resilience to our craft wherever we are in the world. Every move counts, whether it’s a dive into the water or a perfect runway landing. It’s why we’ve put the phrase “move beyond” at the centre of everything we do, as we aim to move people physically, emotionally and purposefully as they embark on their own personal journeys.

“Siobhán is a genuine symbol of Hong Kong’s diligent pursuit of excellence widely acknowledged on the global stage. We are delighted to have Siobhán represent our brand as it reflects our mutual commitment to making every move count in our respective fields,” says Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam. 

From filming her training sessions and scrutinising technique to counting her strokes per length, Haughey is indeed meticulous. She says, “when you’re an elite swimmer, even improving [by] 0.1 seconds is very difficult. Every single tiny detail makes a difference.

“When I’m at the pool, I only think about swimming. My mind shuts out any other thoughts,” she adds.

Representing Hong Kong on a global stage demands nothing less and every factor is considered, from her regimented training schedule to what she eats.

“I know it’s not possible to be 100 per cent perfect, 100 per cent of the time. But I try my best to make the right decisions, or better decisions. I like to ask myself, ‘is there a chance that doing this will help me get to where I want to be?'" she says.

“If the answer is yes,” she continues, “then I’ll do it”.

Home Kong

Amid her hectic schedule, Haughey knows she can always find a home away from home with Cathay. That’s why, she says, she's “very excited” to be Cathay’s ambassador.

“I’ve been flying with Cathay Pacific since I was very young. I remember when my sister and I were kids, the flight attendants would always give us toys for our flight and we always got really excited about it,” she says.

Flying to and from training camps and competitions offers valuable time for Haughey to tune out the rest of the world – and she has an unexpected method for destressing. “I like to watch light-hearted, motivational cartoons on the plane,” she admits. “Some of my favourites are Cars and Kung Fu Panda. It gets me into the racing spirit.”

When she’s off travelling the world, there’s nothing that makes her happier than taking time between tough training sessions to soak up some culture – from checking out world-class museums in France to conversing with residents in Istanbul. But Hong Kong is always in the back of Haughey’s mind, and when she misses her hometown, it’s the simple comforts she turns to. 

“When I get homesick, I’ll try to find food that reminds me of home, like bubble tea, egg tarts and dim sum,” she says, adding it helps that she can grab some of them on a Cathay Pacific flight.

When she boarded her Cathay Pacific flight home following her historic win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Haughey recalls being greeted by smiling flight crew, a giant congratulations sign and a card. As in her childhood, she was once again given a toy, this time a stuffed zodiac animal – a reminder that she carries the city and its hopes with her wherever she goes.

“It was such a warm welcome home gesture,” she recalls, adding: “it’s an honour to partner with Cathay Pacific, a company that connects with so many Hong Kong people.”

The feeling is mutual: we are honoured to play a part in Haughey’s journey – and that of all Hong Kong athletes as the official airline for the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong. And the same goes for all our travellers, as we take them to whatever great things await them next.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming July issue for our full cover story with Cathay Pacific’s brand ambassador Siobhán Haughey, available inflight and on Inspiration. And make sure to tune in for Haughey’s races at the Paris 2024 Olympics this summer, which will be broadcasted on Hong Kong television stations TVB, ViuTV, HOY TV and the government owned RTHK. What’s more, if you’re flying with us, you’ll be able to watch the Games in the air on Sports 24, too.