LAST UPDATE | 30 Jul 2024

DANIEL WIFFEN HAS won Gold for Ireland in the 800m freestyle final at the Olympics.

The 23-year-old set a new Olympic record of 7:38.19 as he competed in the race at the Paris La Defense Arena tonight.

It is Ireland’s second Olympic medal for swimming at these Games after Mona McSharry won Bronze in the 100m breaststroke last night, which was Ireland’s first swim medal in 28 years.

His qualifying time heading into the final was 7:41.53, the fastest qualifying time of the eighth competitors.

The previous Olympic record for this race was 7:41.28, which was set by Ukrainian swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk at the Tokyo Games.

Wiffen at the end of the race Alamy Alamy

Speaking to RTÉ News after the race, Wiffen said he feels “amazing” and that he “can’t believe it”.

He thanked his brother Nathan, his parents, and his coach, adding: “I’m not alone out there.”

He said it was “pretty crazy” that he had set a new Olympic record and said the win was “another one to add to the books”.

President Michael D. Higgins has congratulated the swimmer, calling it a “wonderful achievement of which he can be so proud”.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has also praised Wiffen’s gold medal finish, calling him “a once-in-a-generation athlete”.

“On behalf of the entire country, hoarse from screaming at their televisions and computer screens, I would like to send our absolute admiration and congratulations to Daniel Wiffen,” Harris said in a statement.

He said Wiffen’s win was “one for the ages” and praised his “technique, power and grit under pressure”.

“Congratulations Daniel, we can’t wait to see what you do next,” the Taoiseach said.

Wiffen’s first Olympic Games were at Tokyo in 2021, where he competed in the 800m and 1,500m freestyle.