Ireland's Daniel Wiffen won his third gold medal of the European Aquatics Short Course Championships on Sunday evening. The Down native had the swim of his life as he topped the podium in the 800m freestyle, adding to the golds he had already won in the 400m and 1500m freestyle events.
The 22-year-old also became the first Irish swimmer to break a world record as his time of 7:20.46 took nearly three seconds off the mark set by Australian legend Grant Hackett 15 years ago. Hackett's time was the oldest record in the swimming books.
Wiffen's performance was all the more remarkable for two reasons: It came at the end of an intense championship and, standing poolside on Sunday, the Magheralin man revealed that he had been feeling "horrible" before the race.
10 December 2023; Daniel Wiffen of Ireland celebrates his victory in the Men's 800m Freestyle, setting a new world record of 7:20.46, during day six of the European Short Course Swimming Championships 2023 at the Aquatics Complex in Otopeni, Romania. Photo by Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile
"I'm not sure if it was food poisoning or what was going on but I was throwing up from 1am till 5am before my race. I had some really bad stomach pain. That was why I wasn't feeling great," Wiffen explained to RTÉ Radio One's Today with Claire Byrne on Monday morning.
"I paced it a little differently compared to my normal races because I was feeling a bit sick at the start but then I got into it well. It worked out."
10 December 2023; Daniel Wiffen of Ireland receives his gold medal after winning the Men's 800m Freestyle, alongside silver medallist David Aubry of France, left, and bronze medallist Mykhailo Romanchuk of Ukraine, right, during day six of the European Short Course Swimming Championships 2023 at the Aquatics Complex in Otopeni, Romania. Photo by Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile
Wiffen described Hackett, who sent a congratulatory message, as "one of my idols and one of the greatest swimmers ever".
"I think that was his last record on the books, and for it to be the oldest world record standing is amazing. Three seconds off it was class," said Wiffen.
"He texted me after the race saying 'Well done' and to take it in because world records don't happen that often."
Wiffen believes that the record coming after his "hardest ever period" of racing proves his fitness.
"This time last year I broke the European record in the 800m and then in April I went 14:36 [in the 1500m] and then at the world champs, two fourth places and a European record long course in the 800m freestyle," he told European Aquatics.
"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!"
💥💥 WORLD RECORD💥💥
7️⃣:2️⃣0️⃣.4️⃣6️⃣
Dan Wiffen taking almost 3 seconds off the 800m Freestyle WR held by legend Grant Hackett.
An incredible performance to round off an outstanding week for Loughborough based athletes at the European Short Course Championships. pic.twitter.com/i2q7lb1Hvm
— Andi Manley (@andimanley) December 10, 2023
Daniel's identical twin brother Nathan finished eighth in the final, swimming 7:39.99, the second fastest time of his career for the event.
"I was very tired in that final, I’m not going to lie," said Nathan.
"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’."
Swim Ireland national performance director Jon Rudd added: "A first ever world record for Irish swimming is sensational, something we all dreamt of, and Daniel has delivered that today in some style. This is an iconic moment in Irish sporting history."
