Daniel Wiffen smashes 800m freestyle world record to win third European gold

The Irish swimmer took three seconds off the long-standing record.

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023 - 19:43

Adrian Russell

Daniel Wiffen demolished the 800m freestyle short-course world record to claim his third gold of the European Short Course Championships in Romania.

The 22-year-old Armagh athlete finished in 7:20.46, beating the renowned Grant Hackett's 15-year-old standard by almost three seconds. It was the oldest word record in swimming.

Wiffen added the 800m title to the 1500m and 400m freestyle crowns he secured earlier in the week in Otopeni.

“It’s amazing," he said. "I had people messaging me asking if I was going to try and break the world record, but I was trying to keep it under wraps that I was in the shape for it.

"I felt horrible during the morning so it’s great to swim that fast when I’ve been feeling that way.

"This is the hardest ever period (of racing) as I’ve had ten days of racing. I’ve done four 1500s, three 800s and two 400s in 10 days and to finish off with the world record just proves my fitness.

"This time last year I broke the European record in the 800m and then in April I went 14:36 and then at the world champs, two fourth places and a European record long course in the 800m freestyle. Off the back of that I was kind of disappointed with my fourth places so coming here I was like ‘we need to step up, no more fourth places’ let’s get in the medals and we came away with three golds and a world record which is just amazing!"

Wiffen's brother Nathan also lined out in the 800m final and placed eighth in 7:39.99.

Armagh's Wiffen receives his gold medal alongside silver medallist David Aubry of France, left, and Ukraine's bronze medallist Mykhailo Romanchuk

It was the 22-year-old's second-fastest time in the event.

"I was very tired in that final," he said, "I’m not going to lie, I got a 13-second best in the heats and I was blown away by that, but then I’ve never done that many events in my life, I’ve never done that many swims and I’m very proud that on my first ever international stage that I’ve made two finals and that was the fastest final there’s ever been, so I was so proud to make it."