Daniel Wiffen Wins Second Medal of Paris Games

Daniel Wiffen secured his second medal of the Paris 2024 Olympics by finishing third in the men’s 1500m freestyle final where the USA’s Bobby Finke set a new world record of 14:30.67. Wiffen, who clocked 14:39.63, trailed Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri, who took silver with a time of 14:34.55. Finke’s performance broke the previous record of 14:31.02 set by China’s Sun Yang in London 2012.

Earlier in the week, Wiffen had won gold in the 800m freestyle, becoming the first Northern Irish athlete to win an Olympic gold in 36 years and the first from Team Ireland to earn multiple medals in a single Games in 28 years. The 23-year-old Wiffen’s impressive year includes golds in the 800m and 1500m at the World Championships in Doha earlier this year.

Despite his successful Games, he expressed that he had hoped for a faster time in the 1500m final. “The 800m surprised me, and I was prepared to swim faster in the 1500m. Some days you have it, and some days you don’t,” Wiffen told BBC Sport. He also acknowledged that he had hoped to set a world record but remains pleased with his performance.

Daniel Wiffen will next compete in the Open Water 10km marathon swim in the River Seine. Although he admits to limited open water training, he aims for a podium finish. His second medal contributes to Northern Ireland’s seven medals in Paris including Jack McMillan’s relay gold, Hannah Scott’s rowing victory, Rhys McClenaghan’s pommel horse gold, Rebecca Shorten and Philip Doyle’s medals in rowing.