Wiffen completes his Games with 18th in debut open water swim

OVER AND OUT: Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen after completing his final event at the Games. Pic ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Daniel Wiffen completed his personal Olympic programme on Friday morning with his first ever 10k open water swim, finishing 18th, well over halfway down the field.

Hungary’s Krsistof Rasovszky took gold in a time of 1:50.52.7 with Oliver Klemet of Germany and Hungary’s David Betlehem managing bronze just inches ahead of the Italian Domenico Acerenza.

Wiffen came in six minutes and 27 seconds behind the winner. Four of the 29 who started at 7.30am local time did not finish.

The Irishman, a gold and bronze medallist in the Paris La Defense Arena pool earlier in these Games, was attempting this race for the first time and, as is his wont, he didn’t rule out the possibility of bringing home a third medal.

BIG SPLASH: Ireland’s Daniel Wiffenin the Seine ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

He didn’t challenge for it at any stage here, finding himself well behind the leading bunch from early on as he adapted with the unique demands of a marathon swim with 25 other men around the six laps in the River Seine.

The backdrop was spectacular, the Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline for the thousands of spectators who lined the river bank but the splashing of the water and low glare of the early-morning sun would have reduced visibility for those involved.

Swimmers depend on feeding stations to take in specially prepared gels at various points of the course and Wiffen was bumped by another competitor at one point when attempting to access his. This is the kind of thing that happens all the time.

They swam with the current and against it, through the middle of the river at some points and hugging the bank at others in an attempt to find the path of least resistance or greatest propulsion. It makes for a punishing physical challenge.