Daniel Wiffen storms to gold in 800m final setting new Olympic record

Men’s 800m freestyle 

Daniel Wiffen staged a storming final stretch in the men’s 800 freestyle final to clinch gold at Paris 2024 in an Olympic record time.

Second going into the final 150m of the race, Wiffen reeled in Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri before triumphing in a time of 7:38.19.

The Armagh man’s success marks a second medal in the pool in as many days for Ireland at Paris 2024 following Mona McSharry’s bronze medal feat the previous night at the La Defense Arena in the west of the French capital.

Wiffen, whose first Olympic appearance came at the delayed Tokyo Games, arrived in Paris as a genuine medal contender, fresh from having won both the 800 and 1500m titles at February’s World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

Despite the successes there, the 23-year-old had targeted improvements including with his breathing technique, telling RTÉ Sport earlier this month that, “you’re going to see a new Daniel Wiffen in Paris”.

But five months ago, rivals such as USA’s Robert Finke and Australia’s Samuel Short had sat out the Worlds.

However, with Short falling just short of the top eight in Monday’s heats, only Finke had qualifed for Tuesday’s final of that duo and in a time almost a second and a half behind Wiffen’s 7:41.53 high-water qualifying mark.

Starting Tuesday night’s final in lane four between Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieria and Tunisian Ahmed Joauadi, Wiffenwas third after the first 50m, with Australia’s Elijah Winnington taking the early lead through the first 200.

By the 300-mark, Wiffen had moved up to second, within a second of Winnington, before he took the lead at the halfway point of the race with Finke second and Winnington moving down to third.

With 150m to go, Wiffen found himself narrowly off the lead just behind Italy’s Paltrinieri but he saved his best until last as he surged into the lead with Finke also moving forward into the silver medal position.

But the American could not catch Wiffen and he delivered the 12th ever Olympic gold medal for Ireland.

He was ecstatic when he spoke to RTÉ Sport afterwards.

“It’s amazing. What’s my name? Daniel Wiffen, Olympic champion. It’s really good, I can’t believe it.

“I want to thank my brother Nathan, my parents, my whole coaching staff in Loughborough University and Team Ireland. I couldn’t have done it without anybody. I’m not alone out there. It was such a good effort,” he said, before detailing the dramatic closing stages.

“I’m not gonna lie, I was looking for Bobby Finke the whole time… I was ‘I can’t get caught last 50m. I’ve been training all f***ing year for this. I will not get caught last 50!’

“I kept looking over and looking over and I saw I got by him and I knew it was over, I had won,” he added, before reflecting on an Olympic record.

“Pretty crazy. Another title in the book. Now I can say I am one of the best ever.”

Wiffen will next tackle the men’s 1500m with the heats on Saturday, while he has also stated his intention to participate in the open water 10km marathon provided it takes place in the River Seine.