Daniel Wiffen Makes History for Ireland with 800m Freestyle Gold

In an exciting show of swimming talent, Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen emerged victorious in the men’s 800m freestyle at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, July 30. Wiffen held off a fierce late push from American swimmer Bobby Finke, finishing with a time of 7:38.19, setting an Olympic record in the process.

This remarkable win marks the first gold medal for Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Throughout the race, Wiffen and Italy’s Paltrinieri closely contested the lead, with Finke lurking behind them. Fans were reminded of Finke’s previous races when he started to surge in the last 50 meters. However, Wiffen managed to stay strong and secured his victory.

During the medal ceremony, Wiffen couldn’t help but smile as he listened to Ireland’s national anthem. Emotions ran high, and it was hard to keep the tears at bay, which he quickly wiped away before celebrating his win with his fellow medallists. Afterward, he rushed over to his family to share in the moment with hugs and joy.

As a first-time Olympian, Wiffen had previously taken fourth place in the 800m at the 2023 world championships but bounced back impressively by clinching gold at the 800m in Doha earlier this year. He’s also known for his appearance in the famous ‘Red Wedding‘ episode of the hit TV series, Game of Thrones.

But the Irish swimmer’s Olympic journey isn’t over yet. He’s set to compete in the 1500m freestyle on August 3, aiming to add another medal to his collection.